No Matter What, Keep Nigeria One – President Buhari Tells Service Chiefs

No Matter What, Keep Nigeria One – President Buhari Tells Service Chiefs

President Muhammadu Buhari has given security chiefs a directive on ongoing agitations in the country, saying they must ensure that Nigeria remains one.

The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olonishakin, stated this on Tuesday in an interview with State House correspondents after a meeting Buhari held with security chiefs at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Olonisakin said the agitation by a “secessionist group” in the South-East, the Independent People of Biafra, was among security issues the President discussed with the security chiefs.

He said the President asked them to ensure that his directive that Nigeria must remain one was carried out to the letter.

Buhari had, in his broadcast to the nation, said, “Nigeria’s unity is settled and not negotiable. We shall not allow irresponsible elements to start trouble and when things get bad, they run away and saddle others with the responsibility of bringing back order; if necessary with their blood.”

Olonishakin said Buhari was specific in his directive that security chiefs must ensure that the lives and property of Nigerians were protected.

He said, “The President talked about the unity of the nation, which is non-negotiable. We have all been fully instructed to ensure that the directive is carried out to the letter.”

The CDS said they were also directed to ensure that they secure the nation, while troops that were outside the country carried out their jobs effectively.

He said security chiefs updated Buhari on security issues within and outside the country where the nation’s troops were during the meeting that lasted over three hours.

He said after the briefing, the President gave orders on some areas they should look at in order to enhance their operations.

When asked what the President told them about the Indigenous People of Biafra’s secret service, Olonishakin said, “All security threats were treated one after another, ranging from terrorism to kidnapping; and herdsmen/farmers clash to IPOB issue. They were all treated; suggestions were made as to what to do as regards the issues.”

The defence chief parried a question on whether he would mobilise forces to the South-East.

“Every security issue, like I said, has been treated and we are going to enhance our operations in all the areas we need to do that. Like I said, he (Buhari) has given the necessary directive which will be carried out by the military and security agencies,” he said.

Olonishakin said despite the recent attacks carried out by Boko Haram, it would be wrong to believe that members of the sect have stepped up their game.

“On Boko Haram issue, you all know it is an asymmetric warfare. It is not that the Boko Haram members have stepped up their game. It is just the issue of suicide bombing that has been the problem; and of course we also working with security agencies and the intelligence agencies to make sure that we address the menace,” he said.