Kidnapping/terrorism: Buhari orders security agencies to rescue victims across Nigeria unhurt
…As Boko Haram attacks Yobe, kills 10, sets school on fire
By Our Correspondents
The President, Muhammadu Buhari has ordered security agencies to immediately rescue all kidnapping victims in captive of kidnappers and terrorists across the country.
Earlier yesterday, 10 people including a hotel guest have been reported killed by Boko Haram/ISWAP after they attacked a hotel in Geidam Local Government Area in the restive Northeast Yobe State.
On rescuing the kidnapped victims, the National Security Adviser (NSA), retired Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno, said the president gave the order at the 2022 maiden meeting of the National Security Council, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja.
He said the President expressed displeasure and sadness over the persistent deadly activities of bandits, terrorists and kidnappers in the country.
“The President spoke about his sadness in respect of recent security challenges and developments we have had in the country, in particular the incident in which several Nigerians lost their lives with many more taken into captivity by criminals and bandits.
“Not just those that were captured during the last Kaduna–bound train incident but those that have been in captivity in other parts of the country.
“The President has directed all the operational and intelligence elements to rescue all of these innocent people immediately and unhurt. This is the basis in which other issues were discussed.
“The Chief of Defence Staff, the Service Chiefs and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) all briefed the President on occurrences in their respective organisations.”
While explaining that he made some recommendations on how best to tackle the security challenges confronting the nation.
“I submitted a memo to the Council and my recommendations are being looked into by the President.
“My recommendations are wide ranging and they touch on all aspects of security, starting with the level of security of our land borders as well as within the country itself,” he said.
He further affirmed that decisive steps would be taken to secure all the land borders of the country, in order to address security threats emanating from the affected border areas.
Confirming the shift of security threats from the North-Eastern part of the country to the North-West and North-Central, he said “It has to be contained collectively by both the Armed Forces and constabulary forces but the intelligence agencies have also been directed to enhance the acquisition of intelligence,” he added.
On his part, the Inspector General of Police, Mr Usman Alkali assured Nigerians that the issue of security would be well coordinated across the country before, during and after the forthcoming gubernatorial elections in Osun and Ekiti as well as the 2023 general elections.
He said: “Regarding the general elections, we are very conscious of the fact that even before the general elections, we have staggered elections in Osun and Ekiti in the next eight weeks.
“All the service chiefs and heads of security agencies and members of the inter-agency consultative forum on elections, are studying the situation.
“We are hopeful and we believe the narrative will change for the better in terms of securing the country to enable us conduct both the staggered and general elections,” he assured.
Boko Haram attacks Yobe, kills 10, sets school on fire
Meanwhile, Boko Haram fighters have wreaked another unfortunate havoc on Geidam, a Yobe town that was attacked in 2021.
According to residents, the sect members sneaked into the town on Wednesday night without firing a single shot.
Reports said at least 10 people including a hotel guest have been killed by Boko Haram/ISWAP after they attacked a hotel in Geidam Local Government Area in the restive Northeast Yobe State.
Residents and eyewitnesses told security agencies that the sect members sneaked into the town on Wednesday night without firing a single shot.
The report also said the terrorists were said to have parked their motorbikes in a neighbouring community.
This attack came just after another gang of terrorists attacked, kornari village, about 3 kilometres to Burutai in Biu, Banki in Bama and Wulgo in Ngala local government areas
According to military sources, the troops of Operation Hadin Kai came through Garin Banza, to repel the insurgent’s invasion, the terrorists, hide their motorcycles, and then razed a government technical school to divert the attention of the troops.
