President Muhammadu Buhari has queried intelligence and security chiefs over the invasion of the Nigeria by all manners of bandits despite the closure of the nation’s borders with neighbouring countries.
At a Virtual meeting today August 11, with the security and intelligent chiefs along with leaders of Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), Buhari expressed concern that in spite of the fact that borders with neighbouring countries have been shut, bandits and terrorists continued to have access to small weapons.
“These terrorists are in the localities. How is it that they are not short of small arms?” he queried the security and intelligence chiefs.
He stressed the need for intelligence-gathering to be improved to be able to track small arms in the Northwest, North Central and Northeast States.
“We have said enough on the need for them to rejig their operations. I am glad that there is better synergy and cooperation which are very important.
“I have directed the Service Chiefs to meet among themselves in-between the National Security Council meetings.
“The services have resources; yes, they need more, and mobility, and are doing their best, but there is a need for better gathering and interpretation of intelligence.
“Our intelligence-gathering must be improved.”
The President informed the Governors of the imminent shipment of military weapons and aircraft from Jordan, China and the United States, but again asked for patience on the part of the public because the new weapons and aircraft must be manned by trained fighters and pilots who must first receive appropriate training.
President Buhari also expressed satisfaction with the level of support from neighbouring countries in the war against terrorism.
“They are cooperating with us. On Boko Haram, we are making progress with Benin, Niger, Chad and Cameroon.
The President also expressed satisfaction with the level of Naval activity in the Gulf of Guinea, using newly-acquired equipment, but demanded that hard-to-reach areas of Lake Chad where Boko Haram terrorists have found new havens, as well as the forests now inhabited by bandits, must be accessed and rid of nefarious elements.
“The Chief of Defence Staff has spoken about their study of the forests and their potential danger to security. We must make sure we follow the bandits and terrorists, but there must not be deforestation in view of the climate situation.”
