President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in Abuja emphasized
that security chiefs have received marching orders to go harder on criminals,
including to shoot anyone found illegally with AK-47.
The President spoke at a meeting with the National Council
of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria at the State House, co-chaired by the Sultan
of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye
Enitan Ogunwusi.
The meeting was attended by security chiefs including the
National Security Adviser, Major-General Babagana Monguno (Rtd), Inspector
General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, the Director-General of Department of State
Services, Yusuf Bichi, and the Director-General of National Intelligence Agency
(NIA), Ambassador Ahmed Rufai Abubakar.
The President, who apprised the meeting with efforts by the
government to improve the security situation in the country, said his
administration has recorded appreciable successes in the North-east and
South-South parts of the country.
‘‘But what surprises is what is happening now in the North
West where the same people, with the same culture are killing each other,
taking their livestock and burning properties.
‘‘As a result of that, we had a four-hour meeting of the
National Security Council attended by the Ministers of Internal Affairs,
Defence, Foreign Affairs, Service Chiefs, Chief of Defence Staff, the
Inspector-General of Police and others and we gave clear instructions.
‘‘One thing that got to the press which I read myself was
that anyone with an AK-47 will be shot.
‘‘This is because AK-47 is supposed to be registered and it
is only given to security officials.
‘‘We closed the borders for some years but the intelligence
report I’m getting on a daily basis is that those who are conducting the
abductions, the killings and so on are still not short of arms and
ammunition,’’ he said.
The President expressed dismay on the attacks on police
stations and killings of security personnel by criminals, warning that no
investor will invest in a country that is unsafe.
Buhari also stressed the need for traditional rulers to use
their roles and positions as bridge builders in each of their communities to
complement government efforts at ensuring peace and security.
He appealed to the traditional leaders to deploy their reach
and influence in the best interest of assisting the Government to root out
those whose sole objective remains to cause trouble and destruction of
livelihoods and families across the nation.
The President, who listened to various interventions from
representatives of the traditional rulers from each of the six- geo-political
zones in the country, pledged that his administration would continue to support
and work collaboratively with them to ensure peace and stability.
Restating his marching orders to the newly appointed Service
Chiefs to bring the security situation under control, the President noted that
closer control can only be achieved with the cooperation and collaboration of
traditional rulers and authorities, who occupy a critical role in our society.
‘‘By your role and positions with history dating back
hundred years, the people trust you implicitly and in return you provide them
with comfort and guidance in accordance with our cultural heritage and
traditions.
‘‘You are the bridge builders in each of your communities.
No one is better placed with your strength of moral authority to ensure that
people who visit your communities for either business, leisure or any honest
and credible reason are protected and made to feel at home,’’ he said.
In separate remarks, the royal fathers stressed the need for
the traditional institution to be assigned definite roles, particularly on
peace and security, within the ambit of the Constitution as well as regular
engagement with the National Assembly on multiple fronts.
The following royal fathers made interventions at the
meeting: the Sultan of Sokoto, the Ooni of Ife, the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe
Nnaemeka Achebe, the Etsu Nupe, Alh. (Dr.) Yahaya Abubakar, King Jaja of Opobo,
Dr. Dandeson Douglas Jaja, Emir of Bauchi, Dr Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu, Emir of
Gwandu, Alhaji Muhammad Iliyasu and the Alawe of Ilawe-Ekiti, Oba Adebanji
Ajibade Alabi.
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