Buhari to security chiefs: Deal ruthlessly with bandits, kidnappers


…Abuja-Kaduna road cleared, safe for travels – IGP

President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered security chiefs to deal ruthlessly with the bandits terrorising Zamfara state and its environs, kidnappers and other security challenges across the country.

The president gave the directive at a two-hour close-door meeting with the Service Chiefs and other heads of security agencies at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Addressing State House correspondents after the meeting, Chief of Defence Staff General Gabriel Olonisakin said the meeting reviewed security strategy aimed at addressing all the challenges confronting the country.

“The security meeting we just had with Mr. President today (Thursday) is to review the strategy that we are adopting in confronting security issues in Zamfara State especially and other places nationwide. 

“And this review strategy is to address all the issues including kidnapping, banditry and other associated issues confronting the nation and we are coming out with a revised strategy to handle those challenges. 

“The marching order is for us to deal with this issue immediately and ruthlessly and ensure that all those bandits are immediately dealt with and all those issues that are bordering on our security are properly addressed,” he said. 

Also speaking, the acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mr Mohammed Abubakar Adamu said the Abuja/Kaduna road has been cleared and is now safe for travels.

He said the road was cleared following a confrontation between security operatives and the bandits and kidnappers. 

“I want to assure Nigerians that Kaduna/Abuja roads are now safe. We have cleared the roads, we have arrested a lot of kidnappers and in confrontation with some of them, some were fatally injured. So, the road is cleared. Our patrol teams, the combined security services that are patrolling the road are constantly there, 24 hours,” he said. 

Those who attended the meeting were the National Security Adviser, Major Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd); Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dangazzau (rtd); Minister of Defence, Brigadier Gen. Mansur Dan-Ali (rtd); Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Yusuf Buratai; Chief of Naval Staff, Mr Ibok-Ete IIbas; and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar; Director General of National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Ahmed Rufai Abubakar; and the Director General of State Security Service (SSS) Mr Yusuf Magaji Bichi. 

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