Security Challenges: Military Security Agencies have Succeeded – Mohammed

The Federal Government has promised Nigerians that terrorists, bandits, and other criminal groups will never again rule over any area of the nation.

The pledge was made by the minister of information and culture,  Lai Mohammed, at a joint press conference in Abuja, the capital of the country.

Although he acknowledged that the government has not yet fully resolved the nation’s security issues, the minister thinks the worst is behind us.

“As you are all aware, the issue of security has dominated our national discourse in recent times, against the background of the terrorism, banditry and kidnapping in the North-East, North-West and North Central; separatist violence and crude oil theft in the South-East and South-South, as well as cultism, armed robbery and sundry crimes in the South-West,” he said.

“Today (Monday), we are here to tell you that while we may not be there yet, our military and other security agencies have succeeded – and are succeeding – in substantially restoring security across the nation.

“As far as the daunting security challenges we face are concerned, we can tell you that the worst is over. Never again will terrorists and bandits and their cohorts hold sway in our country.”

Suspected militants allegedly kidnapped unspecified numbers of traders traveling on the Kaduna-Birnin Gwari Road.

In Mohammed’s opinion, the country’s peace and security are now more threatened than they have been since the civil war that raged from 1967 to 1970 due to the enormous security problems.

“It is the kind of challenge that would have overwhelmed many nations, but thanks to the purposeful leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, we can say, I want to repeat, that the worst is over, and peace and security are gradually returning to the land,” he said.

The minister, however, clarified, “Please don’t misunderstand or misrepresent this assertion. We may still witness isolated cases of security challenges here and there, but it will not be on the scale we have witnessed in the past.”

He praised the President for his leadership, noting that he remained firm during a period when many people were throwing their arms in the air and believing the situation was hopeless.

Mohammed said President Buhari never wavered in his confidence in the ability of the security forces to rise to the situation, and they did, despite calls for the employment of foreign mercenaries to address the security difficulties.

“Some said the security challenges have overwhelmed the military, but the military has now demonstrated that no group of ragtag criminals can ever overwhelm them,” he stated.

“Terrorists and bandits and co can run but cannot hide, and this has been demonstrated by the arrest of those who attacked a church in Owo. These criminals can run but cannot hide, as we have seen in the decimation of the cowards who ambushed the Brigade of Guards troops in Abuja.”