President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday held a critical security meeting with service chiefs, stressing the need for them to intensify efforts at checkmating the growing incidence of terror and killings.
The president was briefed by the service chiefs. Aso Rock insiders told our reporter that Mr. Buhari, obviously not happy with the state of insecurity across the nation, charged the security chiefs to double their efforts.
Issues discussed bordered on welfare and morale of security operatives, the need for more funding and deployment of more weapons especially to the frontlines of the flashpoint states.
Meanwhile the president has condemned the murder of a Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. John Cheitnum of the Kafanchan Catholic Diocese, four days after he was seized by gunmen.
Reacting to the incident in Abuja on Wednesday, President Buhari said, “I am deeply disturbed by the murder of this revered religious figure by outlaws who seem to be bent on creating chaos and disorder in the country.”
He explained that “the persistent attack on innocent people, including religious figures, by gunmen is a matter of grave concern for this administration, because security is one of the major issues of our campaign promises.”
“Let me reassure Nigerians that my commitment to this issue is as firm as ever. I have always made it a duty to regularly summon security chiefs to discuss these challenges and the way forward. I’m not allowing the security chiefs to rest unless and until we find a very effective solution to this disturbing security situation. The security of all Nigerians remains our major priority and I assure Nigerians that we are determined to crush these enemies of humanity with all the resources at our disposal,” the President declared.
