Insecurity: President Buhari Issues New Directive To Security Chiefs

President Muhammadu Buhari has told heads of security and intelligence agencies that their first assignment is to identify and take out leaders of bandits and kidnappers to make the environments they operate safer for citizens.

This was disclosed to correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Monguno, after a meeting between the president and the heads of the agencies.

He said the president had told both the intelligence and operational elements that he will no longer tolerate a situation where bandits and kidnappers are the ones dictating the pace and setting the tone.

The NSA said the president also kicked against a situation whereby security actions are reactionary rather than being proactive.

He said Buhari has also indicated his willingness to provide all resources needed by troops to put down the criminals.

“They must be brought down with all the ruthlessness it requires. And whoever is in collaboration with them will be brought to book,” Monguno said.

He said there will be no adjustment to what the National Security Council has already laid down until normalcy is restored.

The NSA conveyed the president‘s displeasure over certain elements working in cahoot with criminals in and outside the country exploiting the minefields of Zamfara State.

He also alerted that there are some elements working with people in critical agencies of government, saying that certain weaknesses have been identified that must be strengthened.