The President Mohammadu Buhari in a meeting with all the heads of the
Security arms, took a swipe at his Service Chiefs, condemning their
efforts in taming insecurity in the country and warning that henceforth,
excuses would no longer be accepted.
He warned the heads of the nation’s security agencies that while excuses
would no longer be tolerated, he asked them to double their efforts and
do more to secure the nation and its people.
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Retired Major General Babagana
Monguno, disclosed this to State House correspondents at the end of the
meeting.
He added that the President has ordered him to meet with the state
governors in the North-West and that of Niger State, in other to
identify the problems and find solutions to them.
President Buhari met with the service chiefs against the backdrop of
bandit attacks on communities in the region, including those in his home
state – Katsina.
The attacks have left several people dead and many others injured in the
affected states, while lots of properties were destroyed by the bandits.
This sparked criticism over the worsening insecurity in the country,
especially the North West where the armed men have wreaked havoc in
recent times.
As part of efforts to address the situation, Monguno, in company with
the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu and others had embarked
on a fact-finding mission to Katsina and Sokoto States.
Thursday’s meeting had in attendance the Chief of Defence Staff, General
Abayomi Olonisakin; the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique
Abubakar; the Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok Ekwe Ibas; and the Chief of
Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai.
Others included the police boss; the Chief of Defence Intelligence
Agency, Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Usman, the Director-General of the
Department of State Services (DSS), Mr Yusuf Bichi; and the
Director-General Nigeria Intelligence Agency Ahmed Abubakar.
President Buhari’s Chief of Staff, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, and some
other members of the President’s cabinet were also at the meeting.
They included the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss
Mustapha; Minister of Defence, Retired Major General Bashir Magashi; and
Monguno.