Buhari Meets Service Chiefs Over Boko Haram’s Onslaught In Metele
President Muhammad Buhari on Sunday met with Service Chiefs to determine how to curb the recent onslaught by Boko Haram on military formation’s.
Recall that over 70 soldiers and officers were brutally killed by Boko Haram insurgents in Metele village of Borno State last Sunday.
A Presidency source which did not want to be named had on Saturday hinted the media that Buhari had summoned the service chiefs but did not indicate when the meeting was to take place.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu in a statement in Abuja on Saturday stated that the President had taken measures to ensure that the loopholes which led to the fatalities are blocked once and for all.
The statement came on the heels of outrage by Nigerians over the alleged presidency’s apparent silence on the last Sunday’s killings of soldiers.
The President said that his administration remained ever committed and focused on the security of military personnel and other citizens. According to President Buhari, “No responsible Commander-in-Chief would rest on his oars or fold his hands to allow terrorists to endanger the lives of its military personnel and other citizens.
Our loyal forces have proved their strength over the terrorists and we are ready to give them all the needed support in terms of equipment and manpower to succeed in ending the renewed threat. In the coming days, I am engaging the Military and Intelligence Chiefs in extensive discussions on the next steps we shall be taking.”
The President noted that fighting terrorism has taken a global dimension, which necessitates international collaboration among states facing similar security challenges.
President Buhari reassured Nigerians of his continued commitment to their security and of his efforts to sustain the momentum in the previous significant successes recorded against the terrorists. He, however, advised Nigerians against making a political capital out of national tragedy, stressing that members of the armed forces are one family who are commonly committed to the security and safety of all Nigerians.
About 100 soldiers were reported to have been killed in the latest attack by the insurgents on military formation.
The President had on Friday dispatched the Minister of Defence , Dan Mansur-Ali to go and meet the President of Chad and the country’s Defence Minister on how to tackle the menace of the insurgents within the borders of the two countries.
Ostensibly alarmed by the latest killings of dozens of soldiers by Boko Haram insurgents, President Muhammadu Buhari has summoned an urgent meeting of Service Chiefs to find ways to stop the trend.
He has also dispatched the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan Ali, to the neighbouring Republic of Chad for an urgent meeting with President Idris Deby and his defence counterpart.
Knowledgeable sources said in Abuja on Friday that the president is worried by on the deterioration of security situation on the Nigeria – Chad Border that has led to the recently increased Boko Haram terrorism in the area.
