Insecurity: Buhari pledges renewed action against terrorists
President Muhammadu Buhari has promised renewed action against terrorists in the country, saying that his administration would use available resources and manpower to deal with criminals terrorising the country.
The security situation in Nigeria has deteriorated in recent years with several states, especially in the North attacked, leading to the death of thousands of Nigerians, while thousands have equally been displaced.
Buhari stated this in his speech in Abuja Thursday, after observing the Islamic Eid prayer marking the end of Ramadan. The president, however, linked the heightening insecurity in the country to food scarcity.
Buhari, nonetheless, expressed confidence that the situation would improve, as he pledged to use all available resources and manpower to flush out bandits anywhere in the country.
Speaking to reporters at the State House after observing the Eid prayer, Buhari emphatically said that the menace of bandits and kidnappers would be addressed to ensure that the nation’s food security is not threatened.
The president, who hoped for a good rainy season this year, said “the law enforcement agencies are working hard to regain confidence against bandits, so that we can go back to the land. This is very important. This is what the agencies are busy doing right now. We want people to go back to the farm so that we can get enough food for the country and even export.”
Explaining ongoing efforts to tackle the security situation in the country by the administration, President Buhari drew attention to the series of long meetings held in recent weeks, chaired by him, saying that a part of resolutions have been made public by the national security adviser and the others kept secret.
“With the resources and manpower available to us, we are working very hard. We are hoping Nigerians will understand the problem. Nigerians know at what stage we came in in 2015, what state we are today both on security and the economy and we are doing our best.”
The president commended the National Assembly for its support, saying “the National Assembly is cooperating well. Within the resources available, they are giving us priority on our ( military) requests.”
The president then appealed to the nation’s elite to show a better appreciation of the problems facing the country.
“The elite should make the attempt to understand the military. If we order for weapons and armored vehicles, it takes time for the manufacturers. It takes time to ship them and when brought here eventually, they are taken to training institutions, train the trainers before sending them to the field. This is a long process,” Buhari explained.