President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday ordered the service chiefs to rid the nation of the security threats confronting it and ensure the protection of lives and property of citizens in the country.
The president specifically ordered the security chiefs to deal decisively with the threats posed to Nigeria’s corporate existence and its citizens by Boko Haram, the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB), herdsmen and kidnappers.
The president also warned the identified groups against anything that could tamper with Nigeria’s unity, insisting that the nation’s corporate existence was not negotiable.
Buhari issued the order when he held a three-hour meeting with service chiefs in the State House, Abuja.
Present at the meeting were the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, and Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Sadique Abubakar. The Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Ekwe Ibok-Ibas, who was not present at the meeting, sent a representative.
Responding to questions from newsmen after the meeting, Olonisakin said they briefed the president on security issues in the country which he said the president had himself been following when he was away on medical vacation.
According to him, the president instructed them that the nation’s unity was not negotiable and ordered them to ensure that Nigeria’s corporate unity was sustained.
Olonisakin said the meeting reviewed all security threats in the country, including terrorism, kidnapping, herdsmen/farmers’ clashes as well as the threat from IPOB.
Olonisakin, who said the military would ensure total compliance with the president’s directive, also disclosed that Buhari asked them to ensure that the troops fighting Boko Haram effectively discharged their responsibilities.
“We have been meeting with Mr President for the last three hours. All we have done is to update him on all security issues around the country, within the country and outside the country where our troops are.
“Of course, we have just updated him because he is aware of what has been happening.
“He was receiving regular briefings from the acting (vice) president and he was reading the print and electronic media to follow events in the country.
“After the meeting, he directed us on some areas we should look at so as to enhance our operations in the country.
“He talked about the unity of the nation which is non-negotiable. We have all been fully instructed to ensure that the directive is carried out to the letter.
“The issue of security, every security threat, all security threats were treated one after the other, ranging from terrorism to kidnappings, herdsmen/farmers’ clashes, to the IPOB issue, were all treated. Comments were made as to what to do as regards to each of the issues.
“Every security issue, like I said, was treated and we are going to enhance our operations in all the areas that we need to. Like I said, he has given the necessary directives, which will be carried out by the military and the security agencies.
“The assurance is that he also directed that we must ensure that the lives and properties of all citizens are protected and we must make sure that we secure the whole nation and also that troops that are outside to carry out their jobs effectively.
“On the Boko Haram issue, you all know it is an asymmetric warfare. It is not that Boko Haram has stepped up its game. It is just the issue of suicide bombing that has been the problem and of course, we are also working with the security and intelligence agencies to make sure that we address that menace,” he stated.
THISDAY