President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Nigerian military and security agencies to immediately rescue all captives being held hostage by kidnappers and terrorists.
National Security Adviser (NSA), retired Major General Babagana Monguno disclosed this while briefing State House Correspondents at the end of Thursday’s the maiden Security Council meeting for the year, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.
He said: “The President spoke about his sadness in respect of recent security challenges and developments we have had in the country, in particular the incident in which several Nigerians lost their lives with many more taken into captivity by criminals and bandits.
“Not just those that were captured during the last Kaduna –bound train incident but those that have been in captivity in other parts of the country. collectively by both the Armed Forces and constabulary forces but the intelligence agencies have also been directed to enhance the acquisition of intelligence,” he stated.
The Security Adviser noted that the present situation in the country calls for collective efforts by all, not only those that have been charged with the responsibility of physically securing the country.
He said: “Unless the wider society, right down to the Local Governments, are willing to give the type of information needed in order to block the activities of these criminals, this situation will continue to linger beyond whatever time frame we are looking at towards ending this problem.”
2023 Election
The Inspector General of police, Usman Alkali assured Nigerians that the issue of security will be well coordinated across the country before, during and after the election.
“Regarding the General elections, we are very conscious of the fact that even before the general elections, we have staggered elections in Osun and Ekiti States in the next eight weeks. All the Service Chiefs and heads of security agents and members of the inter-agency consultative forum on elections, are studying the situation.
“We are hopeful and we believe the narrative will change for the better in terms of securing the country to enable us conduct both the staggered and general elections,” he assured Nigerians.
The Police Boss also assured the Independent National Electoral Commission that all will be done to ensure that no security challenge threatens the election time-table.
Lateefah Ibrahim
