The Civilian Joint Task Force has called on security agencies and governors to support its personnel with equipment and training to aid their fight against bandits, kidnappers and armed robbers, highlighting the inadequate number of military operatives in Nigeria.

The CJTF national chairman, Kailani Muhammad, made the appeal at the strategic roadmap meeting organised by CJTF in Abuja.

Mr Muhammad said that due to the limited number of security personnel, CJTF had been complementing their efforts to fight and eliminate insurgents and bandits for the past 16 years.

He said, “If you look at the strength of the army in Nigeria today, there are about 290,000. If you compare it to Egypt, they have over three million soldiers.”

Available stats suggest that the North African country has 685,000 soldiers (active and reserve personnel).

The CJTF chief added, “If you combine all the security forces we have in Nigeria, I don’t think there are up to two million and that was where we came in, and they know that we are doing a very good job.

“So, we are calling on the leaders of security agencies to support us with hardware, training, and transportation so that we will be able to sleep with our two eyes closed in Nigeria.”

The CJTF chairman also urged state governments, philanthropists and non-governmental organisations to support the CJTF with welfare packages to aid their security operations in various communities.

He said maintaining law and order and keeping peace and unity could only be sustained by supporting the security agencies.

(NAN)