…as Bello briefs Buhari
By Ayo Fadimu
A joint search and rescue mission, involving the Police, the military and other law enforcement agencies is ongoing to safely rescue abducted persons in Niger.
The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mr Frank Mba, announced this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.
It would be recalled that suspected bandits had, on Tuesday night, invaded Government Science School, Kagara in Niger and abducted some students.
Mba said the Inspector General of Police (IG), Mohammed Adamu, had ordered the deployment of additional tactical, intelligence and investigative assets of the force for the rescue operation.
According to him, four units of Police Mobile Force (PMF) attached to Operation Puff Adder II, one Unit of Police Special Forces, personnel of the Counter-Terrorism Unit (CTU) and operatives from the Force Intelligence Bureau have been deployed.
He said that personnel of the Force Criminal Investigations Department, as well as one Police aerial surveillance helicopter, had also been deployed.
According to him, the police component of the search and rescue operation was being coordinated by the Commissioner of Police in charge of Niger.
He said the commissioner was effectively harnessing all deployed resources and working in collaboration with the Military and other law enforcement agents.
The FPRO said the idea was to ensure an intelligence-driven, focused and result oriented ground and aerial surveillance in the rescue operations and bring the perpetrators to book.
Mba said the I-G called for calm and enjoined members of the community to provide the joint mission with information that could assist in the ongoing search and rescue operations.
In the meantime, President Muhammadu Buhari had met behind closed doors with Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger, at the State House, Abuja.
Although the agenda of the meeting was not made known, the governor was in the State House to update the president on the security situation in his state where some staff and students of Government Science Secondary School (GSSS), Kagara, Rafi council area of the state were abducted by gunmen on Wednesday morning.
Gov. Bello, who spoke to State House correspondents, thanked President Buhari for swiftly ordering actions on the GSSS Kagara school kidnap.
The governor said he had requested for more security personnel and equipment to fast-track results in the rescue operation in the state.
“I came in this evening to thank Mr President for his quick response to the plight of Nigerlites, following two serious kidnap incidences.
“At the same time we rubbed minds on what we think should be done so that we find an everlasting solution to the situation and Mr President has confirmed to me that this matter will be given proper attention.
“We’ll continue engaging the service chiefs and the federal so that we can guide and advice them on what we think should be done. So I think it was a wonderful meeting,’’ he said
He also expressed support for the call by the nation Upper Chamber for the declaration of a state of emergency on security in the country.
Bello said the call had become imperative so as to address security challenges being experienced in some parts of the country.
“At the moment, if you look at what is happening, we are having security challenges in almost all parts of the country, so yes there’s a need to install some form of emergency on security matters across board.
“So yes, I think the Senate acted in good faith. Something definitely needs to be done.
“To be honest, I’m very convinced by what Mr President told me and I feel I’ve seen the presence of the military in Kagara, I was there earlier today, and I also request for some additional personnel and equipment, which I believe will be granted any moment from now.
“Right now, our immediate priority is to get the kidnapped victims released, after that I think we must have a long lasting solution to the farmers/herders conflicts,’’ he added.