‘We’ll overcome our security challenges’

President Goodluck Jonathan has assured Nigerians that security challenges the country is facing will soon become a thing of the past.
Speaking during inauguration of the Police International Peacekeeping Centre and Museum, yesterday, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, Jonathan said the country was passing through a hard time as insecurity had escalated but assured that the government was determined to overcome the challenges.

He said: “We live in changing times in which we are witnessing unprecedented violence in criminal acts. We are witnessing an escalation of terrorism.

“Terrorist acts and insurgency are inimical to our progress. Our dear country has unfortunately experienced this odious development, but we are determined to confront them.”
He charged the police as the lead agency in maintenance of internal security to live up to their responsibility in combating terrorism and other forms of criminality, pointing out that the citizens must be provided with adequate security to go about businesses without fear.

Earlier, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar, expressed the hope that the centre “will serve as a training hub in the West Africa sub-region for police officers being deployed for peacekeeping operations.”
He said due to the excellent performance of Nigeria police officers on peacekeeping operations, the African Union (AU), has made a request for a police unit to be sent to Somalia.
“It is noteworthy that due to the exemplary performance of our Officers, the AU Commission has specifically requested for a second Formed Police Unit to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).”