President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday x-rayed his government’s handling of the Boko Haram/Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorism, the banditry, kidnappings and other crimes in the country, saying that the federal government and the nation’s security agencies have handled the prevailing insecurity in a “strong, determined and robust” manner.
President Buhari spoke on the background of the crippling effects of widespread bandits killings, destructing of properties and kidnappings in Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, Niger, Plateau and other parts of the country, at the at the graduation of Course 29 participants of the National Defence College (NDC), Abuja.
Represented by the Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (rtd), the President stated that the focus of his government is to promote multi-national, combined, joint and special inter-agency collaborations.
According to President Buhari, “although the nation is still grappling with the challenges of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, farmers and herder clashes and militancy, the responses by my government and security agencies in tackling these threats have been strong, determined and robust in order to enhance security of lives and property of Nigerians.
“We consolidated the peace in the Niger Delta and recovered vast territories overtaken by terrorists in the North East. We are making continuous efforts at consolidating the progress made in improving the enabling security environment for peace and development.”
Assuring the troops that their sacrifices would not be in vain, the President also commended the personnel of the Nigeria Police, intelligence and security agencies as well as local vigilante and community groups for their efforts.
Said the President, “in spite of all of these challenges, our faith in the nation is unshaken. Our resolve and will to take the nation to greater heights remains strong.
“My government’s collective effort is to leverage technological innovations to deliver the dividends of democracy for national development.
“For the graduands of Course 29, you are graduating at a time when the values acquired in the College are most needed.”
