Zabarmari massacre: We need to review security strategies – Osinbajo

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has underscored the need to constantly review the conventional means of dealing with the security challenges in the country, following the killing of rice workers in Zabarmari community of Borno State.

Osinbajo, who spoke on Tuesday in Lafia during a one-day official visit to Nasarawa State when accosted by reporters on his arrival, said the Muhammadu Buhari administration was ready to put new ideas on the table in order to secure the country.

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The Vice President, who was received by Governor Abdullahi Sule, said the efforts to secure the nation required “a lot more of local intelligence and the community policing”.

He said the security agencies could swiftly attend to challenges if necessary information was provided on time.

He said: “As the President said, these groups of people have acted insanely in such a dastardly manner, killing innocent people, people who had gone to their farms to work.

“I spoke to the Governor, Governor Babagana Zulum and the former Governor, Senator Kashim Shettima to express my condolence, but more importantly, to try and think through ways of dealing with this kind of random attacks.

“It’s important to understand also that we will probably need to keep reviewing the conventional means of dealing with some of these issues, these security challenges, especially the randomness.

“Which is why the President has said that he is taking a serious look at how to deal with the issues, especially the randomness: some insane person goes into a place and shoots people, that is not the sort of thing that you are prepared for conventionally.

”We have to do a lot more local intelligence and some of the community policing efforts we are planning on, so that information is supplied faster, especially at the local level and then a reaction will then be possible.”

Osinbajo added: “It is a major tragedy; it’s a very unfortunate thing and our hearts are with the family of those who were killed in such a terrible manner.

“We are very confident and the Federal Government will continue to do what it needs to do especially in terms of trying to ensure security in the Northeast and all over Nigeria.

“You’ve heard the President and what he has to say, especially some of the new ideas around security and the security architecture which we are trying to put in place. We will get there.”

“Nigeria has the resources to be great”

While commissioning the Nasarawa State Infectious Disease and Research Centre (NASIDRC), the Vice President reiterated that Nigeria has the resources to be great.

According to him, ” Nigeria has all it takes to be the best in the world, we have the talents, men and women, vision and the resources it takes to be great.

” Governor Abdullahi Sule has shown leadership qualities by continuing the work initiated by his predecessor, Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura behind Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital (DASH) Lafia.

“Nasarawa State is not by any means the wealthiest state in the country. Infact, if you look at what Nasarawa State earns and what is allocated to it, it certainly doesn’t come anywhere near the top one third. I call for the policy to be sustained.” Osinbajo said.

Earlier in his speech, Governor Abdullahi Sule said, ” The Centre will serve as a research hub, crucible for innovations and operational research that will provoke policy initiation. It will conduct clinical trials for vaccines, drugs and other products, in compliance with ethical standards, as well as support trainings in public health and researches at all levels”

“In addition, it will also provide scientific guidance for the local production of vaccines, diagnostic kits, and other related health products. I am happy to state that the Centre is one of the best diagnostic centres in the country” he said.

According to him, when he assumed office, he made a solemn commitment to complete projects initiated by the previous administration in the State.

Governor Sule said that his administration promised to improve on the living conditions of citizenry through the provision of quality healthcare service.