The Nigerian federal government on Thursday expressed concern over the state of insecurity in the country.
This is as Defence Headquarters said 51,114 Boko Haram Terrorists and their families have so far surrendered to Nigerian Army troops in Northeast region of the country.
Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Mohammed Dingyadi, said the government was worried about recent attacks in Kaduna and Zamfara States, especially because the terrorists were being aided by unpatriotic people, calling on community leaders to support government’s efforts to contain security challenges.
Dingyadi also deplored calls to allow citizens to carry arms in view of the security situation in the country, saying the armed forces were constitutionally empowered to carry arms and as such allowing such a situation would amount to lawlessness.
According to the Police Affairs Minister, “recent events in Kaduna and Zamfara States are of serious concern to government. Most of these banditry activities are aided by unpatriotic people in the communities. I am appealing to all community leaders to cooperate with security agencies. The Buhari administration is committed to ensure adequate security in the country.”
Stating that the federal government was determined to provide the necessary equipment for the Nigeria Police and other security agencies to optimise their performance, Dingyadi noted that the government is also expediting action on salary increment for Police, adding: “We are fast-tracking it. Mr. President is committed to it. It was his own idea and we are implementing it.
“Police management is up to the task. They are liaising with the Ministry of Finance to ensure it is done. Very soon, it will be done.”
Also on Thursday, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Usman Alkali Baba, ordered the posting of CP Abutu Yaro, to the Edo State Police Command as the new Commissioner of Police in charge of the State.
The IG also ordered the posting of CP Sikiru Akande Kayode, CP Yekini Adio Ayoku and CP Mohammed Ahmed Barde to head the Adamawa, Kaduna, and Imo State Police commands respectively.
And at Defence Headquarters Abuja, Director, Defence Media Operations (DDMO), Major General Benard Onyeuko, lamented recent setbacks in military operations, apparently referring to the train bombing and killing of soldiers in Kaduna.
General Onyeuko said the military had launched an offensive in Kaduna with a view to containing the terrorists and restoring normalcy in order to ensure that such incidents as train bombing and infiltration of the airport don’t happen again.
The Defence Operations Spokesperson disclosed that a total of 51,114 Boko Haram fighters and families, who surrendered to troops as at April 5, 2022.
They comprise of 11,398 men, 15,381 women and 24,335 children.
On counterterrorism operations in the Northeast, he stated that troops neutralised scores of terrorist arrested, 22 spies of the insurgents, 11 terrorists, three logistics suppliers and rescued 30 civilians.
He said a high-profile terrorist, Commander Sale Mustapha surrendered to troops.He added: “Cumulatively, in the last two weeks, troops recovered one battle tank, five artillery guns, two GTS, three AA guns, one Mine Resistance Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle, three gun trucks, one MOWAG Armored Personnel Carrier, two RPG tubes, three RPG rockets, three RPG bombs.