Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, condemns the appalling ambush, attack
and abduction of soldiers, and civilians who were carrying out their
duties to the Nation in the Lake Chad Basin Frontier Exploration.
The objective of this patriotic exercise is to open up new areas for oil
exploration for the common good of all Nigerians. The terrorist attack
resulted in a number of deaths of hardworking and innocent Nigerians, and
the abduction of some.
Prof. Osinbajo commiserates with the families, relatives and associates of
those who lost their lives in the despicable onslaught and wishes the
injured speedy recovery.
The Acting President after an emergency meeting with the Military chiefs
on Thursdayissued fresh directives to the Nigerian military and all
security agencies to immediately scale-up their efforts and activities in
Borno State in order to maintain a strong, effective control of the
situation and secure lives and property.
While commending the military for the progress already recorded with the
rescue of some of the abducted, Prof. Osinbajo has also ordered the
continuation of search and rescue missions to locate and ensure the
freedom of all remaining abducted persons as soon as possible, using all
available and expedient means in the circumstances. He adds that justice
would be pursued for the victims and against those who engage in this kind
of unacceptable, criminal and terrorist conduct.
Acting President Osinbajo pays tribute to the resilience, courage and
bravery of officers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces for their gallant
endeavours and sacrifices for the peace, security and territorial
integrity of our country. He eulogises the Nigerian soldiers who have paid
the ultimate price in this mission and others linked to the current
insurgency, and gives a firm assurance that the welfare of the families of
the soldiers will be prioritized.
He also commends the diligence of the management and staff of the NNPC,
and the lecturers/consultants from the University of Maiduguri in pursuing
Federal Government’s resolve to grow our country’s current crude oil
reserve base through potential exploration in the Lake Chad Basin,
stressing that the government will by no means be dissuaded.
He said : “some of these extraordinarily selfless Nigerians from the NNPC
and the University Of Maiduguri put their lives on the line that we and
generations to come will enjoy the resources of this land. We will never
forget that sacrifice”
Although pockets of terrorists have been launching attacks recently in
Borno State, the Acting President assures the people of the State, the
region and indeed all Nigerians, that the FGN is not only on top of the
situation, but will define the end of these atrocities by both winning the
war and winning the peace in the North-east.