Amid deteriorating security across the country, caused by Boko Haram, bandits and other terrorists, President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday convened a meeting of the National Security Council at the State House, Abuja, to fashion out new strategies to stem the unending killings.
The meeting is coming less than 24 hours after Boko Haram intensified their assault on the country by attacking Kanamma, headquarters of Yunusari Local Government Council of Yobe, State, barely a week after they invaded Geidam and displaced over 6,000 residents.
It also emerged yesterday that 323 persons had been killed while 949 others were kidnapped by bandits in the last three months across Kaduna State.
The National Security Adviser (NSA) to the President, Major-General Babagana Monguno (rtd), in a statement after the meeting, stressed the readiness of President Buhari to decisively end all forms of security challenges facing the nation.
The NSA also stated that the Council would reconvene next Tuesday to conclude all discussions on how to end the security assault on the country.
He said: “While the criminals continue to test the will of the Nigerian government, the President and the Council, which adjourned today’s critical meeting until Tuesday morning to receive further briefings from the Security Chiefs, are set and determined to decisively end the assault on the nation and will do all that it takes.”
He emphasised the readiness of the President to take profound measures in the wider interest of the people and the Nigerian nation, adding that “there shall be no relenting until peace and security is significantly restored in our communities.”
Monguno stated that President Buhari’s concern about the persisting security challenges in parts of the country was the reason he called the crucial meeting yesterday, as he continues to frontally confront the situation in the country.
He said: “At today’s meeting, the President made it abundantly clear that while the insurgents, bandits and criminals are still at it, he has no doubt that the Nigerian security agencies and all of us as a nation will certainly overcome all the current security problems and defeat the forces of evil marauding about in different parts of the country.”
Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; Minister of Defence, Major-General Bashir Magashi (retd.); and Monguno attended the meeting.
Others at the meeting were Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor; Chief of Army Staff; Lieutenant-General Ibrahim Attahiru; Chief of Naval Staff; Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amoo; and the acting Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba.
Boko Haram Attacks Yunusari LG of Yobe State
Meanwhile, Boko Haram intensified their assault on the country by attacking Kanamma, headquarters of Yunusari Local Government of Yobe, State, barely a week after they invaded Geidam and displaced over 6,000 residents.
Spokesman of the Yobe State Police Command, ASP Dungus Abdulkarim confirmed the attack.
Abdulkarim said: “As a matter of fact, Boko Haram insurgents attacked an outskirt of Kanamma on Thursday night, unfortunately, we have lost contact with our people there due to the absence of a mobile network in the area. We will update you when we reach out to them.”
A local source further revealed that upon hearing gunshots around the military base, the residents fled to the bush for safety.
In 3 Months, Bandits Kill 323 in Kaduna State
The Kaduna State Government yesterday disclosed that 323 persons were killed while 949 others were kidnapped by bandits in the last three months across Kaduna State.
The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr. Samuel Aruwan stated this yesterday while presenting a report on the security situation in the state at a security meeting which held at the Government House, Kaduna.
Aruwan also said 64 bandits were neutralised by troops while several gunrunners were arrested during the same period.
According to the commissioner, “The report covers banditry, kidnapping, cattle-rustling, attacks, and reprisal attacks.
“The report also includes the aerial missions conducted over identified bandit hideouts and locations across the state, during which multiple scores of bandits were engaged and neutralised, with their camps destroyed.”
Giving statistics of the killings, he said, “Deaths linked to banditry, violent attacks, communal clashes and reprisals in the first quarter totaled 323 across the state,”adding that 20 of them were women and 11 were minors.
He said, “Out of the 323 citizens killed, 292 were males. All the 236 of the deaths occurred in Birnin Gwari, Chikun, Igabi, Giwa and Kajuru LGAs.”
According to him, “Birnin Gwari recorded the highest figure of 77 deaths, followed by Chikun with 52, Igabi 45, Giwa 42, Kajuru 20 deaths, in the first quarter.
“Southern Kaduna Senatorial District had 68 deaths in total, of which five were women and two below the age of 18.
“Kajuru had 28 deaths, followed by Zangon Kataf with 14 and Kagarko with 12
“And the Northern Senatorial Zone is the least affected with 19 people killed, and Zaria has the highest casualty of six.”
He said 64 bandits were neutralised during engagements with ground forces.
The commissioner said, “Scores of bandits were neutralised via about 150 targeted aerial missions conducted by the Nigerian Airforce.
“These missions were initiated based on credible intelligence of bandit activity and locations of camps, which were targeted and destroyed.”
He said further that “Several gunrunners have been intercepted and arrested with arms and ammunition recovered in the first quarter. Thirty six AK47 Rifles, 1959 rounds of live ammunition and one rocket propelled grenade were recovered.”
He said, investigations were ongoing towards dismantling more gun-running networks and block arms routes into the state as these are central to the perpetuation of violence and banditry.
The state government expressed empathy towards individuals and groups who have suffered terrible losses and untold hardship as a result of violence and insecurity, adding that efforts were being intensified towards ensuring lasting peace and security across the state.