President of the Global Peace Movement International, Dr. Mike Uyi, has commended the Federal Government's renewed approach to combating insecurity, describing the directive by the Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), for troops to immediately neutralise terrorists and bandits as a major turning point in Nigeria's counter-terrorism campaign.

Reacting to the minister's directive that members of the Armed Forces and other security agencies should no longer hesitate to engage criminal elements without waiting for further orders, Dr. Uyi said the position demonstrates the government's resolve to confront insecurity with greater decisiveness.

He argued that what he described as the "pampering of terrorists" over the years had been detrimental to Nigeria's efforts to defeat insurgency, banditry and other violent crimes, stressing that criminal elements should be treated as enemies of the state rather than being accorded undue concessions.

According to him, the Defence Minister's declaration sends a strong signal that security agencies now have the political backing needed to take swift and decisive action against those threatening the nation's peace and stability.

Dr. Uyi also lauded the Federal Government for the recent distribution of armoured vehicles and other operational assets to military formations across the country, noting that the equipment would significantly enhance the operational capacity of troops in the ongoing fight against insecurity.

He expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for what he described as sustained investments in strengthening Nigeria's security architecture, saying the administration's commitment to improving the welfare and operational capability of security agencies deserves commendation.

The peace advocate equally acknowledged the support of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and the National Assembly for their backing of policies and legislative measures aimed at reinforcing the country's security framework.

On the issue of state policing, Dr. Uyi renewed his call for its implementation, insisting that the time had come for Nigeria to embrace a decentralised policing structure.

He maintained that concerns over possible abuse or other uncertainties should no longer be used as grounds to delay the establishment of state police, arguing that an effective state policing system would complement the efforts of federal security agencies in tackling emerging security challenges at the grassroots.

His remarks come against the backdrop of the Defence Minister's recent charge to members of the Armed Forces and other security agencies to immediately engage bandits and terrorists once deployed to operational areas, warning that any officer who fails to act against criminal elements under the guise of awaiting orders would be treated as an accomplice.

General Musa gave the directive while distributing armoured vehicles to security agencies in Sokoto State, where he reaffirmed the Federal Government's commitment to strengthening national security through improved operational capacity, enhanced intelligence gathering, inter-agency collaboration and sustained investment in modern security equipment.