Former Army Provost and National Defence College faculty member Major General Pat Achem-Vingir (Rtd.) has alleged that some terrorism sponsors were present in the hall when new Defence Minister General Christopher Musa delivered his inaugural address referring to enemies of the state.
Speaking during an interview with Channels TV from 24:29, Major General Achem-Vingir suggested that terrorist financiers operate within elite circles. “When the minister of defence was speaking about enemies, some of them were listening to him in the hall. And so you need to be able to identify such people and then cut them off from giving that constant flow of resources to insurgents,” he said.
The retired general identified illegal gold mining as a major funding source for insurgency in northern Nigeria. “Most of the things happening in Zamfara and other states in the northern part of Nigeria are economic related. So you need to take hold of your assets there. The gold mining that is going on there shape the environment. You need to trace those who are involved. Pick them up, lock them up, freeze their assets. If you do that and cut the other source of capital that the insurgents are using, then you are heading towards the right direction,” he stated.
Major General Achem-Vingir called for increased troop deployment to deny insurgents operational space. He recommended holding captured territories while advancing systematically to eliminate ungoverned areas where terrorists currently operate freely.
The retired officer proposed using constant drone surveillance to make life uncomfortable for insurgents, arguing that persistent aerial pressure combined with ground forces occupying strategic positions would restrict terrorist movements and operations effectively. View, More,
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