This was made known by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, in a statement on Tuesday.

He said at the meeting, the president would given update on developments regarding the security situation of the country.

His words: “The security forces have in the past few weeks taken the battle more robustly to insurgents, bandits, and all other criminals troubling the country, and they are now surrendering in droves. The President will be brought up to speed on developments at the Thursday meeting, while plans to bring a decisive end to the challenges will be formulated.”

The president returned to Abuja last Friday after 18 days in London, during which he attended an education summit and did health checks.

The post JUST IN: Insecurity: Buhari meets with security chiefs on Thursday appeared first on Frontpageng.

Governor Wike made the call during the wreath laying and parade ceremony organised to mark the 2021 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration in Port Harcourt on Friday.

The governor, who acknowledged the efforts made so far by the country’s security chiefs in the battle against insurgents, noted however that despite full military engagement with Boko Haram and killer bandits, the threats appear to be overwhelming the country’s security agencies.

Governor Wike said, Boko Haram, bandits and killer herdsmen have continued to overrun communities, randomly killing and abducting helpless people.

According to him, these insurgents have also destroyed private and public property with relative ease, and it is time for the federal government to take decisive action and end such menace.

“A country is as strong as its Armed Forces. Her inability to defeat the Boko Haram insurgency despite years of full military engagement shows that all is not well with our approaches and commitments to the battle against the internal insecurity.

“Today, therefore, also raises the need for all of us to be worried by the deteriorating security situation across the country and restate the call on the Federal Government to do everything necessary to bring the security threat by Boko Haram and armed bandits to a decisive end in the shortest possible time.

“We thank the Service Chiefs for their efforts so far in the battle against the insurgents. But we also align with the concern of citizens that having seemingly reached their wit end, they should now give way for fresh hands and ideas to give the fight the impetus that it so strongly needs to ensure that Boko Haram and killer bandits are comprehensively defeated and smoked out of existence.

“The time has come for the Federal Government to stop the prestine, change strategy, seek help from our friends and confront the urgency of the internal insecurity situation in Nigeria with every weaponry at its disposal to stop the killing, free all hostages and improve the physical security of our country for all Nigerians,” he said.

The governor stated that all Nigerians were gracious beneficiaries of the various sacrifices made by the Armed Forces as they put their life in line to defend the country.

According to Governor Wike, the least duty every Nigerian owe the soldiers, veterans, and their families was to continue to remember, honour and celebrate them for their extraordinary courage in service and sacrifice to the country.

“On this solemn day and occasion therefore, we join the rest of our country to honour and pay tribute to all our soldiers who died at the various battlefields in the service of our nation.

“We also salute and honour every serving member of Nigerian Armed Forces carrying on today in the noble tradition of those before them dutifully defending our nation’s territorial integrity.

“They are fighting to keep us safe and secured in the face of insurgencies from Boko Haram, bandits and other criminal elements threatening our peace and security across the country.

“Our beloved country is still together, existing and waxing stronger as one indivisible, free, and democratic country because of your commitment and sacrifice to its unity and progress.

“As Nigerians, our collective desire is to have a country where we can all live in unity, freedom and security. A country where our children and grandchildren can live in relative comfort and strive for a brighter future,” he stated.

Governor Wike reiterated the need to have an enduring reward system  for officers and men of the Armed Forces to encourage them in their sacrifices to the country.

He said his administration had continued to implement such financial support policy for security personnel of Rivers origin because of the importance it places on the selfless sacrifices that they make to keep Nigeria united and in peace.

“No amount of recompense can adequately assuage the loss of precious life or the disabling effects of permanent bodily injuries. But we shall never cease to accord profound honour that you deserve and canonise your bravery and patriotism at all times in expression of our gratitude for what you truly represent.

“As a government, we believe that society must endeavour to move beyond the yearly ceremonial ritual and comfort speeches of today to proffer adequate care and support for the families of everyone of our soldiers who unfortunately pays the supreme price or suffers permanent disability in the line of duty to our nation.

“It is for this reason that we have since adopted and implemented the policy framework that guarantees some financial support to the immediate families of any soldier from Rivers State that pays the supreme price or suffers permanent disability at the battlefields in the course of his or her service to our nation.

“We have also fulfilled and continued to fulfil our promises and commitments to our veterans through the Rivers State Chapter of Nigeria legion. Two days ago, we released the sum of N70 million to the chapter,” he added.

The post Wike to FG: Change security chiefs, strategy to tackle insurgency appeared first on Frontpageng.

The call on the president was made on Tuesday during plenary amidst the upper chamber’s resolutions, sequel to the consideration of a motion, “Beheading of 67 Farmers in Borno by Boko Haram Insurgents: Need for Urgent Decisive Action.”

The motion was sponsored by Senator Kashim Shettima (APC – Borno Central).

The Senate in its nine-point resolutions prayed the  president to take immediate steps to restructure, remodel and revamp the country’s entire security architecture and provide enough state-of-the-art weapons and equipment to effectively combat the belligerent power of the insurgents.

It also urged the president to immediately initiate probe into widespread allegations of corruption and leakages within the security structure and put mechanisms in place to foster transparency and ensure all resources meant and deployed for security are actually spent on the needs on ground.

In addition, the upper chamber called on the federal government to aggressively explore multilateral and bilateral options of partnership with the neighbouring nations of Chad, Niger and Cameroons towards reviving and strengthening the Multinational Joint Task Force and finding a lasting solution to the scourge of insurgency in the Lake Chad region.

Accordingly, it urged the federal government to, as a matter of urgency, recruit at least 10,000 Civilian JTF, versatile with the local terrain in Borno as Agro-Rangers under the aegis of the NCDSC to complement the efforts of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

Consequently, the Senate also directed the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA; the Humanitarian Affairs Ministry; and the North East Development Commission (NEDC) to provide Succour and psychological support to the bereaved families.

While calling on the federal government to undertake recruitment of more personnel into the Armed Forces, the Upper Chamber advocated proper welfare for security personnel fighting in the frontlines and give prime attention to the compensation and welfare of fallen soldiers as that would boost the soldiers morale and aid their concentration.

It also called on the federal and state governments to adequately address all immediate and remote causes of insecurity in the nation, which must include comprehensive packages on education, employment and other social vices.

Coming under Order 42 and 52, Senator Shettima in his motion “Notes that Borno State has been the epicenter of the despicable activities of Boko Haram for over decade during which a conservative estimate of 40,000 people – mostly unarmed civilians – were brutally murdered, 2.5 million people displaced from their homes and farms, property worth trillions of naira wantonly destroyed and over 7 million people – mostly women and children – plunged into dire humanitarian needs.

According to the lawmaker, the fight to control the border axis of the North-Eastern part of this country had claimed thousands of lives (military and civilian alike).

He said the fallen men and women of our military, police and CJTF “are our national heroes whom we must remember, pray for and care for their loved ones till the end of time.”

He added: “Aware that over the weekend, Boko Haram insurgent members beheaded 67 farmers who had gone to a rice plantation at Kwashabe Village in Zabarmari District of Jere Local Government Area, 20 kilometres north of Maiduguri, Borno State Capital to harvest ripe farm produce and destroyed the farm;

“Observes that this attack is one of the major attacks perpetrated by this devilish group in addition to the February attack in Auno that killed 40 people, the assault in Foduma Koloram Village of Gubio that killed almost 100 civilians in last June while another attack in Usman Lawanti left another 40 dead;

“Further observes that last month, Boko Haram fighters killed 22 farmers working on irrigation fields near Maiduguri in two separate incidents;

“Further observes that while Nigerian army’s Super Camp strategy has commendably helped in reducing military fatalities, it has left rural areas, farms and road acutely exposed to attacks;

“Further observes that, as the Wall Street Journal documented in a recent report and as supported by the testimonies of victims and survivors, while Maiduguri and other major cities are relatively safe, thanks to the efforts of this administration, Boko Haram insurgents are literally ruling our rural areas and farms such as the Damaturu-Maiduguri road especially around Jakana, Damboa-Maiduguri and Damaturu-Dapchi road where they mount checkpoints, rob, kill, destroy and abduct at will;

“Further observes that the recent spike on deliberate, consistent and systematic targeting of herders, fishermen, loggers and now farmers will exacerbate the major food crisis in the North, lead an unprecedented surge in food prices across Nigeria and seriously damage our country’s economy;

“Further observes that we have watched verifiable footages of Nigerian soldiers struggling to quench thirst or feed themselves while trying hard to contain deadly advances of the insurgents. A case study in this is the lamentation on record last year of the former Commandant of Operation Lafiya Dole, General Olusegun Adeniyi, that his men lack the basic weapons and equipment to successfully fight Boko Haram;

“Disheartened that more than 67 citizens were beheaded while they were working in their farmland without any form of resistance or challenge from the Security Agencies stationed a few kilometres away;

“Worried that the Nigerian military in conjunction with other Security Agencies up till today have not been able to quell the insurgency affecting the region despite the slogan by Government officials that the insurgents have been technically defeated;

“Concludes that we cannot as a nation move forward until the lives of every Nigerian is protected and secured as the primary objective of government is the security and the protection of its citizens. Protecting the lives and property of citizens is the primary obligation of government and any government that cannot discharge this basic obligation losses any iota of legitimacy.”

Senator Ahmad Baba Kaita (APC – Katsina), while throwing his weight behind the deployment of the Joint Task Force to the North East, lamented that despite huge allocations to the Defence Ministry, very little had been achieved in the area of guaranteeing the security of lives and property in the North East region.

“I totally agree that the president is doing his best, but doing your best is not enough when the result cannot be seen on ground, and this is what is happening.

“It’s not all about money; this National Assembly has increased the budget year in, year out, to the security apparatus of this country, yet the more we give money, the more attacks we have,” he lamented.

On his part, Senator Ali Ndume (APC – Borno South) who also spoke on the floor of the Senate bemoaned the delay in the implementation of the report of the National Assembly by the executive arm of government, on measures needed to be undertaken towards an overhaul of the nation’s security infrastructure.

“The first report that we submitted to this Senate was not implemented.  The second report was also not implemented. We have made several suggestions in this Senate, and nothing was done.

“Mr. President, this Senate needs to move a step further to save this country,” he said.

Citing Section 14 (1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, the lawmaker emphasised that while sovereignty belonged to the Nigerian people, the primary purpose and responsibility of the federal government shall be to guarantee the security and welfare of citizens.

“Mr. President, before us is a budget of N13 trillion, and to the army, we are budgeting N27 billion for its capital.

“The figures when looked at is on the high side. Defence has over N800 billion; and more than N500 billion and another N100 billion for Operation Lafia Dole. That makes me to agree with my distinguished colleague that there is the need to look into this.

“We pay people, and they don’t have the arms or ammunitions. I can tell you authoritatively that until now, people at the war front are sharing ammunitions.

“If you’re not told that these are soldiers, you would not be able to tell the difference between them and Boko Haram, because they are not well kitted. Some of them don’t have bullet proof vests or helmets.

“I have gone round, and I have not seen a soldier holding a brand new AK-47. When you see brand new AK-47, it is only in Abuja here with the Brigade of Guards,” the lawmaker said.

Senator Adamu Aliero (APC – Kebbi Central) on his part faulted President Muhammadu Buhari for not deeming it fit to visit Borno State following the killing of the farmers.

The lawmaker, while noting that “the humanitarian situation in the northeast is nothing to write home about,” said the “Service Chiefs have outlived their usefulness,” therefore, “it is time to inject new blood.”

In his concluding remarks, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, said, “I believe that the National Assembly has taken the issue of insecurity very seriously. We have always given attention to it.

“We have to take additional steps to insist that our resolutions are respected and implemented, because the parliamentarians are close to the people.

“I believe that this is one set of resolutions that the Executive must find a way of quickly implementing. These are not frivolous or imaginary resolutions. These are resolutions that have come from experience on ground.

“I think that this is one thing that will gladden the heart of Nigerians once we start implementing them.

“I also believe that the National Assembly has a lot of responsibilities and weight on this and other issues, and that is to say this is supposed to be a turning point.

“I use the word turning point very purposefully, that barbaric killing and slaughter of people in Borno, let’s make it the turning point in the fight against insurgency and insecurity in Nigeria. I believe that government as a whole should see it that way.

“Enough of any excuses, people who have little or nothing to add should be shown the way out. People with the capacity and wherewithal, but probably lack the resources, we will make the resources available to them.

“At the end of the day, we are responsible to the citizens, and the first responsibility is to secure their lives,” the Senate president said.

The post Zarbamari killings: Sack security chiefs, Senate tells Buhari appeared first on Frontpageng.

Already, the Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi, is said to be working to that effect and very soon a difference would be witnessed.

The National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, made these known on Tuesday while speaking with State House correspondents shortly after the security meeting with the president at the Presidential Villa.

He said at the meeting, the president reiterated his earlier position that the security chiefs, though were doing their best, still had a lot more to do to tackle the security problems of the country effectively.

His words: “The president is angry over the declining security situation. At the last meeting, he mentioned it.

“What he said today is virtually a reaffirmation of what he said the first time. Yes, Mr. President said ‘you are doing your best, as far as I’m concerned, but there’s still a lot more to be done. I’m more concerned about the promise we made to the larger Nigerian society and I am ordering an immediate re-engineering of the entire security apparatus.’

“This is something that I believe will be done in a very short time, but I just want us to keep hope alive. I know how everybody feels, I know how Nigerians feel, definitely the president is not oblivious of the fact that securing the nation is a primary responsibility of government and I believe in his sincerity, but again, since he’s not an octopus, since he’s not a spirit, if he delegates to people, then the onus is on them to actually fulfil the legitimate expectations of the larger Nigerian society.”

The state of insecurity has increased in recent time with killings, particularly in the North West and North East of the country.

Only recently, the convoy of the governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, was attacked by members of the terrorists group, Boko Haram.

The post Insecurity: Buhari orders re-engineering of security apparatus appeared first on Frontpageng.

Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, Coordinator, Directorate of Defence Media Operations, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

Enechie said the meeting, chaired by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, was to re-strategise and enhance existing synergy among security agencies towards addressing the security challenges in the nation.

He said that the meeting deliberated on developing and mapping out new strategies to promptly address terrorism, banditry and other criminalities, particularly in the northern part of the country.

Enechie solicited the cooperation of Nigerians for the Armed Forces and security agencies in tackling the security challenges in order to speedily restore sanity to the troubled regions.

He said those at the meeting were the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Ibok-Ete Ibas; Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshall Sadique Abubakar and Inspector General of Police, Adamu Muhammed.

“Also in attendance were the Director General, Department of State Service, Yusuf Bichi; Director General, Nigerian Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Abubakar; Chief of Defence Intelligence, Air Vice Marshall Muhammed Usman and the Commandant General, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Abdullahi Mohammadu,” he said.

Source: NAN

The post Insecurity: Service chiefs meet, map out new strategies appeared first on Frontpageng.

The president gave the directive on Monday in Abuja when he presided over a meeting of the Security Council.

This was made known by the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Ibok Ekwe-Ibas.

Addressing journalists after the meeting with the president, Ekwe-Ibas said the council reviewed the security situation in the country in 2019.

According to him, both the internal and regional operations were considered and the security chiefs promised to step up the game in the new year.

“Mr President has directed that the council and the members of armed forces ensure a peaceful society in 2020.

“To that effect, we are more than determined to continue from where we stopped in 2019 and to ensure that we sustain our various operations to ensure a secured Nigeria for all of us,” he said.

He added:  “With respect to operations within the country, it was generally agreed and noted that the security agencies have done their very best in ensuring that the deliverables are made clear.

“You will recall that the various operations in the country in the northeast, northwest, north central, the southeast as well as the southwest where all members of the armed forces are taking part as well as the intelligence agencies have ensured that we all enjoyed a better holiday period that has just been observed.

“We also recalled that in those areas where the military have been able to achieve desired objectives, from the first quarter of next year, the civil authority will be preparing to take back those responsibilities as the military draws back its forces from those areas.

“This will enable the military to focus its attention on other emerging threats and areas of concern…

“It also observed that in the maritime environment a lot has been done to ensure that our resources are protected.

“The outcomes of the operations there have seen to the arrest of about six vessels that were involved in stealing of the nation’s maritime resources.”

The post What Buhari told security chiefs, by Chief of Naval Staff appeared first on Frontpageng.

The president gave the order on Thursday during a meeting with service chiefs at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

According to him, Nigerians should be able to sleep with their eyes closed.

The Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok Ekwe Ibas, made this known shortly after the meeting with the president.

Speaking with State House correspondents, he said the order came after the service chiefs briefed the president on the security situation in the country.

His words:  “The meeting was just basically to appraise Mr. President of the security situation generally after his short vacation abroad.

“The security agencies briefed him on what has been happening with particular emphasis on the proliferation of small arms and what the various agencies are doing to curtail the consequences of this proliferation.

“He has also given directives that the agencies should do much more to ensure that Nigerians go to bed and wake up feeling healthy and confident that their security is guaranteed.”

He stated further:  “You will recall during the last meeting, the IG was directed to ensure insecurity is addressed and consequently various operations were set up; Puff Adder was one of the strategies. With the set up of that operations there have been a remarkable drop in the number of kidnappings. What normally would attract attention is when a key person in government perhaps is kidnapped. On the whole, the number of kidnappings has dropped and generally I think the security situation is improving.”

Ibas said two persons had been arrested in connection with the kidnap of the district head of Daura and that they would soon be “brought to book.”

The post Buhari to service chiefs:  Do more to ensure safety of lives, property appeared first on Frontpageng.

The meeting which was held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, had in attendance, President Muhammadu Buhari; the Minister of Defence, Brigadier General Mansur Dan Ali; Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General T.Y. Buratai; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, among others.

According to a statement issued by Tukur Gusau,  spokesperson of the Dan-Ali, it was agreed at the meeting that security agencies should be deployed to the states of the federation to ensure peaceful elections.

The proposed deployment, it was said, would also frustrate the bid by anyone that might be planning to cause crisis during the elections.

He added that the meeting considered the chances of violence after the elections following possible whipping up of ethno-religious sentiments.

He stated too in the statement:  “Of concern is the proliferation and stockpiling of weapons by some disgruntled elements with a desire to take laws into their hands at the slightest opportunity.

 “The council called for the concerted efforts of all security agencies to ensure that 2019 elections are hitch free and the need for continuous sensitisation of the public by National Orientation Agency (NOA) and regular meetings of relevant stakeholders including INEC, international/ local observers and the media ahead of the elections.”

The post 2019: Buhari, security chiefs meet appeared first on Frontpageng.