PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu on Thursday met with heads of security agencies in the country, charging them to demolish all bandit camps and rescue abducted victims across the country.
News Point Nigeria reports that the meeting, which lasted for hours, also centred on measures to provide an enabling environment for the conduct of the 2027 general elections.
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Addressing State House correspondents after the meeting, the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), said the security chiefs were at the Presidential Villa to brief the President on the security situation in the country, adding that, with the elections drawing near, it was important to keep him abreast of developments.
Musa said the meeting was attended by all heads of security agencies and that President Tinubu directed them to go all out to “fish out and rescue all those that have been abducted, kidnapped, wherever they are.”
“There shouldn’t be any camp of any Terrorist or bandits anywhere in Nigeria,” he quoted the President as saying.
The Minister said, “We had an intensive discussion, and Mr. President made it very clear he wants a free, fair, and credible election. We must do everything possible to ensure that the country is safe and secure for the citizens to go out and vote. And so, we want to assure Nigerians that we are committed. We are determined to ensure that we provide safety and security for all.”
Musa said it was important for all political parties to understand that the security forces would remain neutral and provide every party with the opportunity to participate in the electoral process without intimidation.
“It is important for all political parties to understand that the security forces are going to be neutral, we’re going to ensure that we give everybody opportunity to go and serve, so they have nothing to worry about, nothing to be afraid of, and nobody is going to intimidate them for whatever reasons. We are all professionals. We are fully committed,” he said.
He added that the security agencies remained committed to protecting Nigerians and ensuring a safe environment ahead of the elections.
“As we go forward, we assure Nigerians that we’re fully committed. So we thank Mr. President for his support to the armed Forces for his support to other agencies, and to assure Nigeria that we’re all working as a team, as Nigerians for Nigeria. We assure you that,” the Minister said.
Speaking on the welfare of security personnel, Musa said several measures had been taken to improve their conditions of service.
“From increment in the recruitment processes, training exercises, procurement. I want to assure you very soon, Mr. President, is coming to commission a set of new aircraft and helicopters that have been bought.”
He said nearly 10 aircraft and helicopters had been procured, noting that the development demonstrated the President’s commitment to tackling insecurity despite the country’s economic challenges.
“I think almost about 10 of them in number, and to show Nigerians that despite the economic issue, the issue of security is in the front burner of Mr. President’s view.
“So, for us, we are very happy. The recent increment of salaries for members of the armed forces. I’m sure very soon that that of the police and all others have been addressed, including those of the pensioners. Nobody is going to be left behind,” he said.
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Musa added that President Tinubu wanted every Nigerian and every citizen to be satisfied with ongoing efforts, stressing that the administration remained committed to peaceful initiatives and called for public support to ensure the country remained free.
“Mr. President wants every Nigerian and every citizen to be happy with what is ongoing, and he is fully committed in the peaceful effort on what we are doing today and we want Nigerians to put their hands together to make sure that Nigeria remains free,” he said.
