President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the nation’s security chiefs to identify and take out bandits, kidnappers and their sponsors
This is even as he has warned them that a situation where bandits and kidnappers are dictating the pace in the fight against insecurity will no longer be tolerated.
The National Security Adviser (NSA), retired Major-General Babagana Monguno disclosed this while briefing State House Correspondents at Tuesday’s meeting with security chiefs.
Monguno quoted the President as saying that he will also not tolerate a situation where the Armed Forces are reactionary rather than being proactive.
He said, “the President in particular emphasized that the comprehensive reports he has received form the Chief of Defence Staff and the Service chiefs, following their recent appointment, has illuminated the need for him to look deeper into certain aspects that need to be taken care of.
“On the issue of kidnapping and banditry, this menace still persists especially in the North-West and the North-Central zones. The President has stated very clearly that this menace must be brought to an end but using the traditional methods that the Armed Force have been trained to deploy.
“He made it very clear to both the operational and intelligence elements that their first assignment will be to identify the leaders of these bandits and kidnappers and take them out in order to restore confidence in the affected areas.
“He has said that he will no longer tolerate a situation whereby bandits and kidnappers are the ones dictating the pace and setting the tone and he will no longer condone a situation in which our own operations are reactionary rather than proactive. He has also indicated his willingness to provide all the resources required by our own troops in order to put down these criminals, they must be brought down with all the ruthlessness that is required and whoever is collaborating with them would be brought to book.”
Commendation
Monguno further disclosed that the President expressed delight at the way the Service Chiefs have so far conducted their affairs.
“He is particularly impressed by the way the new Service Chiefs have started their assignments, with the operational visits they have made to the theatre, where they have been able to address the troops, look into their immediate needs and come up with immediate-, medium- and long-term proposals.
“The President is going to look into these things with the urgency they require but he is particularly delighted that from what he has received for the Chief of Defence Staff, there is now a renewed vigour and the willingness on the part of all the operational elements to work together as well as work hand in hand with the intelligence organizations,” he said.
The NSA added that President Buhari also insisted that all the decisions approved at the National Security Council meeting last month, including a ban on mining activities in Zamfara as well as no fly zone remain enforced until further notice to curb the rising insecurity in the state.
The NSA said he the nation’s intelligence community was fully aware of the activities of some individuals and groups who are planning to frustrate the government’s effort implementing the decisions of the National Security Council.
Stern Warning
He therefore, warned such people to rescind their decision or face the consequences of their actions.
He said: “I’m also to send out a warning to those people who think they can continue to behave in a manner that undermines national security. Those people engaging in all kinds of underhanded, unscrupulous, mischievous and deceitful practices, people who are working with those that are in government, in particular, critical agencies of government, we have been able to identify certain areas that are weak and these areas have to be strengthened so that these characters who are engaging in acts that you can describe as outright acts of brigandage, people who are behaving in a manner that portends a lot of danger to innocent lives, have to be fished out.
“This is the directive from the President, I am to send a warning to those people who think they’re in close proximity with those who have the instruments to make the space easy for criminals, those people who think they have some kind of authority, who are engaging in all kinds of Hocus Pocus in all kinds of jiggery skulduggery, those people will be brought down to their knees.
“It is extremely important for these people, I’m sending out a message to them, anybody who thinks he can continue to pool whatever resources he has at his disposal, to frustrate the efforts of the central government in bringing about peace and security will have himself to blame.”
Also speaking to State House Correspondents, Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, assured Nigerians that insurgency would soon be brought to an end.
“We are on course and we are making good progress. Generally, when the situation is getting to an end, it appears that the heat is more and until it begins to get hot before it gets cold.
“So, we are on course and I’m sure you may have observed the movements that we have undertaken in the last one month and the operational engagement we have also had. That should give an indication as to what we are doing and the fact that we are on course“.
He said President Buhari encouraged them to heighten the tempo of operation and sustain the tempo.
Dominica Nwabufo
