Buhari Tasks Service Chiefs

President Muhammadu Buhari has charged the recently appointed service chiefs to ensure it defeats kidnappers and their sponsors across the nation.

He gave the directive on Tuesday, during his meeting with the service chiefs at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The National Security Adviser NSA, Babagana Monguno, who briefed state house correspondents after the meeting noted that the president had charged the service chiefs to be more proactive rather than reactionary.

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The President had warned that his administration would not tolerate a situation where the criminal elements will continue to dictate what should be obtainable in the fight against insecurity.

Monguno also quoted the President saying all decisions approved during the national security council meeting in February should be enforced. The decisions include a ban on mining activities in Zamfara and the no-fly order imposed on the state.

According to him, maintenance of the order in Zamfara state will help in curbing insecurity in the state.

The President who lamented the heightened terror unleashed on parts of the country by bandits and kidnappers said his administration will no longer accept it.

He said, “After meetings with governors of the Northwest and North-central zones, Mr. President decided to call for an emergency meeting with heads of defence and security organisations.

“Prior to this meeting, he had also met with the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum on issues directly linked to the state of insecurity in the nation. Today’s meeting was not a very long meeting, but the President looks at certain issues that were presented to him in the last week.

“Mr. President, in particular, emphasised that the comprehensive reports he has received from the Chief of Defense Staff and the service chiefs, following their recent appointment, has illuminated the need for him to look deeper into certain aspects that need to be taken care of.

“He is particularly inspired and impressed by the way the new service chiefs have started their assignment, with all the operational visits they’ve made to the theatre, where they’ve been able to address the troops, look into their immediate needs and come up with immediate, medium and long term proposals.

“Mr. President is going to look into these things with the urgency they require, but he is particularly delighted that from what he has received from the Chief of Defence Staff, there is now a renewed vigour, there is now a willingness on the part of all the operational elements to work together, as well as also working hand in hand with the intelligence organisations.

Kidnapping and banditry.

“On the issue of kidnapping and banditry, this menace still persists, especially in the Northwest and the North-Central zones. Mr. President has been very emphatic, he has stated very clearly that this problem must be brought to an end, but using the traditional methods that the armed forces have been trained to deploy.

President Buhari’s  meeting with the service chiefs comes ahead of his medical trip to London, UK.

Recall that the senior special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, had on Monday announced that the trip is “routine”.

The president is expected to return to the country in the second week of April.