Buhari assigns service chiefs

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Munguno, revealed this to State House media during President Buhari’s first council meeting of the year.

He stated that the President was dissatisfied with the current security situation and had remained a very unhappy man as security in the country deteriorated due to the failure of the military and other authorities to contain the danger.

According to him, the final straw was the recent attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train, which resulted in the deaths of several passengers and the captivity of a large number of others.

He stated that a lack of technology and human intellect, particularly from the larger society, has resulted in the ongoing battle, and that until this is addressed, the fight may become intractable.

Monguno, who was joined by the Minister of Defence, Maj Gen Bashir Magashi (rtd), and the Inspector General of Police, Alkali Baba Usman, said the President cannot be happy while people are being slaughtered left, right, and center every day.

The NSA expressed President Buhari’s mood, saying, “A lot of lives are being lost, how can the President be pleased in a scenario when people are dying?” If something happens ten times, he will be upset ten times, and as the father of the nation, he must voice his unhappiness.”

However, the NSA stated that President Buhari has ordered the immediate release of all kidnapped people who have not been harmed, using the train attack as justification.

Monguno argued that the President cannot be held entirely responsible for the country’s instability because his role (as President) is to make strategic decisions, which he has been doing.

“You know, he’s basically at the managerial level, and he gives us orders.” And his annoyance is most likely due to his belief that not enough is being done. So we can’t entirely put this on his shoulders. He is at the strategic level, making judgments, but when these things grow interminable, he must voice worry. And that is exactly what he did.”

In response to a query about why it was difficult to deploy technology, particularly in places where the military had issues, the NSA stated, “One, technology is expensive.” Because we do not manufacture such sensitive equipment, acquiring technology takes time.”

The NSA chastised Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai for his remarks on security, claiming that the governor’s remarks might jeopardize security. He chastised el-Rufai for being a loudmouth, saying that he may indirectly assist terrorists rethink their strategy, putting people in captive at risk.

He said this in response to a query about el-accusation Rufai’s that the military failed to act despite intelligence information on bandit hideouts and planned assaults being made available to them early enough.

“El Rufai’s remarks might jeopardize security since criminals can migrate to other locations if they know their present hiding is known.” The governor stated that security services are aware of who the bandits are and where they are. That is, once again, perilous.

“When you start talking a lot.” You give a lot of things away. Even if they claim we know where they are, it is an issue in and of itself. Because once you say it, whether true or untrue, the person who holds your people captive will relocate. “As a result, it is sometimes advisable to simply remain silent; silence is the word,” the NSA stated.

In response to escalating insecurity, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has stated that the establishment of state police forces would be a better alternative than community policing. Obasanjo made the revelation during a courtesy visit to Abeokuta by the leadership of the National Association of Ex-Local Government Chairmen in Nigeria.

Obasanjo, who praised the initiative that led to the founding of the organization, stated that the development demonstrated unequivocally that some local chairmen were better than even the top elected leaders.

While responding to one of the speakers, Chinwe Monu-suggestion Olarewaju’s on the development of community police to combat the surge of insecurity, the former President stated that the plan needed to be altered.

“Everyone is concerned about our condition in Nigeria, particularly the issue of terrorism.” The investigation has progressed beyond the topic of community policing. It is currently the responsibility of the state police. “We can now talk about community police because of the state police,” he remarked.

He also commented on the need to enhance the traditional system and the administration of local governments, “which I prepared under the popular Murtala/Obasanjo administration because I feel that there is a need to enable that tier of government to work really as a local government.”

RIVERS STATE GOVERNOR and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential contender Nyesom Wike has suggested that establishing state police will be a long-term solution to Nigeria’s lingering insecurity.

According to Kelvin Ebiri, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, the governor disregarded the argument against the necessity for state police when courting party delegates in Taraba State yesterday.

“If there are no state police, the federal government cannot halt this insecurity.” There are no two ways about it: you must have state police. The presence of state police does not exclude the presence of federal law enforcement. Every government agency, including councils, has its own strategy to ensure that you hire individuals who understand the environment.”

Those opposed to state police, according to the Rivers governor, frequently worry that if legalized, governors will use it against their opponents.

Similarly, Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku has emphasized the importance of establishing state police. He bemoaned Nigeria’s condition of insecurity and expressed hope that if the PDP comes to power in 2023, it will restore the country’s lost grandeur.

FORMER Anambra State governor and PDP presidential candidate Peter Obi claimed yesterday that given the country’s level of insecurity, Syria is currently better than Nigeria. Obi declared this when he went to Imo State to tell the party’s leadership and delegates of his presidential aspirations.

“Every morning in Nigeria, you hear about what is going on in Afghanistan and Pakistan.” Because we have a failing administration, even Syria is now better than Nigeria.

“Nigeria is owing more debt, and the government will not be able to live with the debt in the next three years.” It is unsurvivable for any country. The only way out is for there to be a production economy rather than a sharing economy.

“We have borrowed more than $100 billion, and this country is unable to generate electricity.” “When we look at the big picture, we’ve come to the conclusion that we need to shift the economy from a sharing economy to a producing one,” he proclaimed.

Dr. Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, also endorsed the request for state police. He stated this during his appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today last night.

When questioned, the Minister vying to succeed President Buhari in 2023 stated he would establish state police in every village.

“Of course, you will recall that as governor of Anambra State, the federal police were removed from me and I was exposed, but I had to assemble vigilantes (Bakassi Boys) and pay them N30,000 each month to ensure security in the state.”

However, the International Crisis Group has stated that vigilante organizations in Nigeria require “strict control” to prevent exacerbating the country’s security problems. This was noted in the group’s paper, titled ‘Managing Vigilantism in Nigeria: A Near-Term Necessity,’ which was issued yesterday.

Concerns have been raised in recent months concerning vigilante operations, particularly when they operate without access to legal protections.

Several state governments banned the Yan Sakai vigilance organization, which works in towns across the North and has been suspected of carrying out retaliation when people are harmed, in 2021. In Benue, where communities have been attacked in recent years following the passing of the anti-open grazing laws into law, the state administration abolished all vigilance organizations formed without legal authorization in May 2021.

As the number of gunmen assaults increases around the country, more vigilance organizations are cropping up in states. According to a Crisis Group assessment, vigilance organizations are expanding in number as a result of the country’s security issues, but without sufficient training for the operators, their operations might exacerbate the situation.

“There has been a profusion of new vigilance organizations in Nigeria to combat crime and safeguard the people.” Vigilantes have stepped in to fill the void left by the federal police, who have generally failed to reduce insecurity across the country. However, if the groups are not properly taught or managed, they may worsen rather than alleviate uneasiness over time,” according to the paper.

“Some doubt both their constitutionality and their efficacy.” Some vigilantes have also been accused of major human rights crimes, and the recent rise of ethnically exclusive organizations may strain ethnic or other community ties.”

Rinaldo Depagne, the organization’s West Africa project director, voiced worry about politicians hijacking the group for personal gain.

“Many are concerned that, in the absence of tighter monitoring, the situation will deteriorate, with more and perhaps more serious violations, reinforcing the prevalent culture of impunity and exacerbating insecurity,” Depagne added.

The federal and state governments, according to the research, must create a structure to guarantee that vigilante organizations in the country are adequately governed.

“In order to lessen reliance on vigilantism, Abuja must reestablish faith in the state’s ability to provide security to all residents,” the organization stated.

MEANWHILE, as part of Nigeria’s contribution to world peace, around 173 soldiers have been sent to safeguard the peace in Guinea Bissau. Major General Oluwafemi Akinjobi, Chief of Operations, Army Headquarters, said this while addressing during the pre-deployment training graduation of the Nigerian troops to the ECOWAS mission in Guinea Bissau.

“Since independence, Nigeria has provided over 100,000 troops to over 40 nations on peacekeeping operations,” he stated at the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre Jaji, Kaduna State.

Akinjobi, who was represented by the Chief of Operations, Major General Zakari Abubakar, stated that Nigeria continues to be a beacon of peace and the gatekeeper of the ECOWAS sub-region. He emphasized that Nigerian peacekeepers had contributed to the restoration of peace in many war zones throughout the world, earning them several national and individual commendations from various missions.

“The nation continues to seek to ensure security and stability in Africa via collective security through contributing to international peace and security, which is critical to Nigeria’s defense strategy,” he said.