President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday evening held an emergency National Security Council meeting to discuss fresh security challenges in Borno and Nasarawa States.
While away in South Africa for the World Economic Forum, gunmen, suspected to be members of the Islamist sect, Boko Haram, invaded Bama town in Borno State, killing dozens of security operatives.
Also in Alakyo, a village in Nasarawa State, which borders the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, cultists, known as Ombatse group, on Wednesday ambushed and killed about 100 policemen, a situation that compelled the President to abort his planned state visit to Namibia and hurry back to Abuja on Thursday night.
In attendance at the security meeting were the Minister of Police Affairs, Caleb Olubolade, who first came out of the meeting; the National Security Adviser, Colonel Dasuki Sambo; the Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Saad Ibrahim; the Chief of Naval staff, Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba; the Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Badeh; the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar; as well as the Director General of the Department of State Service.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Azubuike Ihejirika, was represented.
Speaking with correspondents, Olubolade assured the public that the police will not avenge the killing of their colleagues either in Nasarawa State or elsewhere.
He said the job of the police is to protect lives and property.
He also confirmed that the emergency security council meeting was summoned to discuss fresh challenge in Nasarawa State, with a view to exploring different ways of ensuring a lasting solution to the security challenge.
Olubolade spoke further: “It is an emergency security meting at the instance of Mr. President.
“He had to cut his journey short because of insecurity and loss of lives.
“He was supposed to have been in Namibia.
“So, he summoned the security agencies to have quick meeting with us.
“He is looking at how we can put an end to all these troubles we are having.
“It is sad that those who are protecting lives and property are becoming the targets of various insurgents and criminality, be it political or otherwise.
“But what is important now is to re-strategise and empower them the more.
“Besides that, if there are other avenues that will make us not to grow criminals, the government will have to look into that.
“The issue of creating employment and other aspects.”
On the fears that police in Nasarawa State may revenge, the Police Affairs Minister had this to say: “The security agencies, particularly the police, will not want to go and revenge.
“It is not going to help us because they are supposed to protect lives and property.
“Going to revenge will not douse tension and will bring about lack of confidence in the system.
“So, we will strictly discourage that.”
Also speaking on the statement by the United States Embassy that the security situation could destabilise the country, the Media Adviser to the President, Dr. Reuben Abati, said government had already taken proactive approach by directing investigation into the mass killings in Baga, Bama and the latest in Nasarawa State.
Abati said: “The major point in response to this statement by the US Embassy is that thorough investigations are already ongoing with regard to the incidents in Baga, Bama, Nassarawa and other places.
“President Jonathan is on record as having ordered very thorough probes.
“He has also encouraged independent investigations by the National Human Rights Commission.
“In addition, he has had to cut short his trip to South Africa and cancelled his planned state visit to Namibia.
“He is back in the country to personally oversee the situation.
“Today, President Jonathan has hosted an emergency meeting of the National Security Council where he received further briefings from security chiefs.
“Secondly, President Jonathan has made it very clear that apart from the investigations, where there has been any case of misconduct, the persons involved will be brought to justice.
“There is no issue therefore as to the fact that the government will ensure accountability and the protection of the civilian population from terrorist attacks.
“Three, it is also not true that the administration is adopting a force-based approach.
“The approach to the insurgency by the government is not a uni-focal approach.
“There are many dimensions to it.
“One of those dimensions is the consideration of the option of dialogue and what has become known as amnesty.
“What has been made very clear is the fact that the terrorists that we are dealing with are not just local insurgents.
“They also have international connections as revealed yesterday in court that they receive funding from certain elements in Algeria.
“However, we note the opinion and the concerns expressed by the United States Embassy just as we note the very encouraging and supportive comments by the UK Foreign Secretary, Rt. Hon. William Hague.”
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