‘Military alone cannot win war on terrorism’

The Executive Director of the Lagos State Trust Fund, Mr. Fola Arthur-Worrey, has said the Nigerian military cannot win the war on terrorism without the help of the police and the Department of State Services.

Arthur-Worrey stated this during a lecture on Thursday at the Police Officers’ Wives Association complex, Ikeja, Lagos.

The lecture was titled ‘Practical solutions to terrorism in Nigeria.’
Arthur-Worrey, who advised the Federal Government to save money in fighting terrorism by dissolving all non-essential ministries, added that the duplication of similar security agencies in the country was counter-productive.

He said, “We must strengthen the bond among the security agencies to win this war. Nigeria must never dialogue with terrorists as the United States of America never negotiated – but apprehended Osama Bin-laden.

“Our intelligence gathering must be so sophisticated that we should know what Shekau and his men are doing at their camp in Sambisa forest. Terror war should be a collective responsibility, involving even the religious groups. Hence, there should be an inter-community collaboration among the citizens.”

While he believed the Federal Government had not done well in its war against terrorism, Arthur-Worrey called for the review of the Petroleum Trust fund which, he advised, should be directed towards fighting insurgency.

The Chairman of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, who was also the special guest at the event, urged Nigerians to show patriotism, adding that the Federal Government should bring the spate of terrorism ravaging the country under control.

In his remarks, the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, who was represented by Mrs. Idowu Alakija, advised Nigerians to always be security conscious.

Other dignitaries at the lecture included the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 2, Umar Manko and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Cornelius Aderanti.