President Goodluck Jonathan had on Friday presided over an emergency National Security Council meeting to discuss the latest security challenges in Borno and Nasarawa States.
During his stay in South Africa for the World Economic Forum, militants suspected to be members of the Islamist sect, Boko Haram, stormed Bama town in Borno State, killing dozens of security operatives.Days later, Alakyo, a village in Nasarawa State, which is hundreds of meters away from the nation’s capital, Abuja, witnessed the ambushed and killing of about 50 policemen on Wednesday by a group known as Ombatse group.
Saddened by the both incident, the President shelved his planned state visit to Namibia and rushed back to Abuja on Thursday night.
In attendance at the security meeting were the Minister of Police Affairs, Caleb Olubolade, the National Security Adviser, Colonel Dasuki Sambo; the Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Saad Ibrahim; the Chief of Naval staff, Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba; the Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Badeh; the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar; as well as the Director General of the Department of State Service.
However, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Azubuike Ihejirika, was represented.
In a chat with newsmen, Olubolade said regardless of the brutal murder of the law enforcers, the institutions will continue to protect lives and property of Nigerians.
He also confirmed the agenda of the emergency meeting.
“It was an emergency security meting at the instance of Mr. President. He had to cut his journey short because of insecurity and loss of lives. He was supposed to have been in Namibia, but he summoned the security agencies to have quick meeting with us.”
“He is looking at how we can put an end to all these troubles we are having. It is sad that those who are protecting lives and property are becoming the targets of various insurgents and criminality, be it political or otherwise.
“But what is important now is to re-strategise and empower them the more. Besides that, if there are other avenues that will make us not to grow criminals, the government will have to look into that. The issue of creating employment and other aspects.”
On the fears that police in Nasarawa State may revenge, the Police Affairs Minister had this to say: “The security agencies, particularly the police, will not want to go and revenge.
“It is not going to help us because they are supposed to protect lives and property. Going to revenge will not douse tension and will bring about lack of confidence in the system. So, we will strictly discourage that,” the Minister stressed.
Meanwhile, the presidency, reacting to a statement by the United States Embassy that the security situation could destabilize the country, Presidential Media Adviser, Dr. Reuben Abati, said government had already begin investigation into the mass killings in Baga, Bama and the latest in Nasarawa State.
“The major point in response to this statement by the US Embassy is that thorough investigations are already ongoing with regard to the incidents in Baga, Bama, Nassarawa and other places,” he said.
“President Jonathan is on record as having ordered very thorough probes. He has also encouraged independent investigations by the National Human Rights Commission.”
“In addition, he has had to cut short his trip to South Africa and cancelled his planned state visit to Namibia. He is back in the country to personally oversee the situation.”
“Today, President Jonathan has hosted an emergency meeting of the National Security Council where he received further briefings from security chiefs.
“Secondly, President Jonathan has made it very clear that apart from the investigations, where there has been any case of misconduct, the persons involved will be brought to justice.
“There is no issue therefore as to the fact that the government will ensure accountability and the protection of the civilian population from terrorist attacks.
“Three, it is also not true that the administration is adopting a force-based approach. The approach to the insurgency by the government is not a uni-focal approach. There are many dimensions to it.
Abati noted that one of those dimensions is the consideration of the option of dialogue.
“What has been made very clear is the fact that the terrorists that we are dealing with are not just local insurgents. They also have international connections as revealed yesterday in court that they receive funding from certain elements in Algeria.
“However, we note the opinion and the concerns expressed by the United States Embassy just as we note the very encouraging and supportive comments by the UK Foreign Secretary, Rt. Hon. William Hague,” he added.
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