President Muhammadu Buhari ahead of his medical trip to London has issued a fresh directive to the security chiefs.
Buhari directed the nation’s service chiefs to identify masterminds and sponsors of banditry and kidnapping terrorizing the country with a view to fish them out.
The National Security Adviser, Major-General Babagana Monguno (retd.), on Tuesday disclosed this in a statement after
He told the state house correspondents that Buhari issued the directive at a meeting he had with the service chiefs at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. after a security meeting, headed by President Muhammadu Buhari in the State House, Abuja.
He said Buhari has also indicated his willingness to provide all resources needed by troops to put down the criminals.
“On the issue of kidnapping and banditry, this menace still persists, especially in the Northwest and the North-Central zones. Mr. President has been very emphatic, he has stated very clearly that this problem must be brought to an end, but using the traditional methods that the armed forces have been trained to deploy.
“Mr. President has made it very clear to both the intelligence and operational elements that the first assignment will be to identify the leaders of these bandits, kidnappers and take them out, in order to restore confidence in those areas.
“Mr. President has said that he will no longer tolerate a situation whereby bandits and kidnappers are the ones dictating the pace and setting the tone and he will not also condone a situation in which our own operations are reactionary rather than being proactive.
“He has also indicated his willingness to provide all the resources required by our own troops in order to put down these criminals. They must be brought down with all the ruthlessness that is required and whoever is working in collaboration with them will be brought to book.”
President Buhari is set to depart Nigeria today for medical trip in London. The special adviser to the president, Femi Adesina disclosed this on Monday evening.
Although no specific date was announced for his return, he is however expected to be back to Nigeria in two weeks time according to Adesina.
