President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday in Abuja ended a
meeting with 36 state governors on the issue of security with a
charge to them to work more with traditional rulers and community
members to improve local intelligence gathering that will aid the
work of security agencies.
The President, who listened to presentations by a governor from
each of the six geo-political zones on their specific security
challenges, recalled that in the old order communities identified
newcomers and passed information to constituted authority.
“The sub-region is no longer safe, more so with the collapse of
the former Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi’s regime and the cross
border movement of weapons and criminals.
“Governors must work with traditional rulers. Try and work with
traditional rulers to boost intelligence gathering.’’
READ ALSO: #ENDSARS: I Was Disgusted By Foreign
Media Coverage – Buhari
Giving an overview of the security situation in each of the
zones, the President said his administration had done well in the
North East and South-South, adding that the South-South situation
was still worrisome.
“Every day I get situation reports about illegal refineries and
the blowing up of pipelines. You must stop local rogues from
sabotaging oil installations.’’
Addressing the issue of banditry and kidnapping reported in each
of the geo-political zones, President Buhari said “security is
important and we must secure the whole country. We are thinking
very hard about the issue of kidnapping. We will make it possible
for the military to get to the bandits and kidnappers and eliminate
them.’’
He explained that the closure of the nation’s land borders was
partly an attempt to control the smuggling of weapons and
drugs.
“Now that the message has sunk in with our neighbours, we are
looking into reopening the borders as soon as possible.’’
President Buhari gave assurances that the country’s military
will continue to get the support they needed to fight
criminals.
“I am not going to the public to speak about the vehicles and
equipment we have ordered. What I can say is that the military
received armoured cars and other equipment and they are training
the trainers. More of such equipment, including military aircraft,
will come in.’’
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On the issues raised on ENDSARS protest and its hijack by
hoodlums to cause mayhem and destroy private and public property,
President Buhari sounded a strong warning about reoccurrence,
saying that no responsible government will allow that to
happen.
“We do not stop anyone from demonstrating, but you don’t set up
roadblocks and smashing windscreens. Which government will allow
that?’’
President Buhari noted that the foreign press coverage of the
ENDSARS violence was not balanced, citing specifically the CNN and
BBC, for omitting the number of policemen killed, police stations
that were razed, and the prisons that were thrown open for inmates
to escape.
“I was disgusted by the coverage, which did not give attention
to the policemen that were killed, the stations that were burnt,
and prisons that were opened. (They said we are all at fault. We
don’t have the sympathy of anyone. We are on our own).’’
President Buhari said violent demonstrations will no longer be
allowed, adding: “democracy does not mean confusion or lack of
accountability.’’
On the eight-month-long strike by the Academic Staff Union of
Universities, the President said lecturers had not taken into
consideration the larger challenges facing the country.
“Government conceded something. The problem is that they refused
to look at the problem of the whole country. The Minister of Labour
is working hard at it. It is amazing how ASUU will stay out of
classrooms for so long. There’s a need for our elites to understand
the challenges facing the country.’’