President Muhammadu Buhari will reconvene a Security Council meeting on Tuesday in view of the rising security challenges facing the country.
The president had convened the security meeting Friday, which had in attendance Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha; Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari; Minister of Defence, Major-General Bashir Magashi (retd); Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola; and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major-General Babagana Monguno (retd).
Others were Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor; Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Ibrahim Attahiru; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo, and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Ishiaka Oladayo Amao.
The acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Usman Alkali was also in attendance.
A statement by the National Security Adviser after the meeting Friday noted that the president, who was concerned about the persisting security challenges in parts of the country, ‘summoned a crucial meeting of the National Security Council as he continued to frontally confront the situation.
Monguno said the president made it clear at yesterday’s meeting that “while the insurgents, bandits and criminals are still at it, he has no doubt that the Nigerian security agencies and all of us as a nation will certainly overcome all the current security problems and defeat the forces of evil marauding in different parts of the country.
“While the criminals continue to test the will of the Nigerian government, the president and the Council, which adjourned today’s critical meeting until Tuesday morning to receive further briefings from the security chiefs, are set and determined to decisively end the assault on the country and will do all that it takes.
“Mr President is very prepared to take profound measures in the wider interest of the people and the Nigeria. There shall be no relenting until peace and security is significantly restored in our communities,’’ the statement also reads.
Daily Trust Saturday reports that yesterday’s meeting, which held at the First Lady’s conference room, came as various stakeholders across the country demanded urgent action from the president to reverse the dangerous security situation.
The Niger State governor, Abuabakar Bello, had during the week disclosed that Boko Haram terrorists had overrun 50 communities in Kaure and Shiroro local governments and hoisted their flag.
