Insurgency, banditry: Buhari again gives security chiefs matching orders

By Egena Sunday Ode

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday gave a fresh  matching order to the nation’s security chiefs over the current insecurity across the country, occasioned by activities of bandits and insurgents.

He charged them not to rest until all Nigerians are fully at rest from the current menace.

Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, made the disclosure at the end of  the National Security Council (NSC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja.

 Aregbesola said, the President after receiving briefs from all security chiefs, the security agencies and intelligence organizations on  security  nationwide, appreciated the successes and gains recorded by all of them. 

According to the minister: “He (President Buhari) is of the belief that more must  and should  still be done. But he commended all of them for the progress we are  recording on all fronts.”

He added that the President ordered the armed forces  and other  security agencies, intelligence organizations, not to rest on their oars, notwithstanding the progress and efforts being made to eliminate insurgency, banditry, kidnapping for ransom, and all the other criminalities.

He said: “The president said that we are not yet where we should be. That Nigerians deserve to live in peace. And that until we achieved that we will not rest.”

The minister said President Buhari was particularly pleased with the outcome of the November 6th gubernatorial election that produced former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Charles Soludo, as the Anambra governorship election.

The minister said: “The President was particularly happy with the fact that a free and fair election was made possible by the INEC and our security agencies. And that that is a good assurance  to all Nigerians, that we are committed to promoting democracy, that is in respect of Anambra election. 

“The President was particularly happy that a free and fair gubernatorial election held  in Anambra.  And he was quite happy that the combination of INEC and  the security agencies, from the military to the police and all the other agencies made that possible with the support of the people and the government of Anambra. We all saw the outcome. With that there is no doubt as to the commitment of our  administration to promoting democracy, and ensuring that 2023 is not in any way threatened.”

Aregbesola said Buhari was also particularly happy with the news that the Head of INTERPOL National Central Bureau, Assistant Inspector General of Police, Garba Umar, has been elected Vice President (Africa) and Executive Committee Member of the International Criminal Police Organisation – INTERPOL.

Aregbesola said: “And the council was briefed about the election today of a Nigerian, AIG Garba Umaru, who emerged out of the four other candidates, as the vice president of Interpol for Africa, which means that a Nigerian today, represents the 54  African nations at the Interpol level. The election took place today (Thursday), a couple of hours ago. And he emerged as the vice president of Interpol in Africa, representing the 53 African nations.  That too was discussed, appreciated and applauded.