President Buhari with his service chiefsNigeria Service Chiefs, made up of armed forces, police and other security and intelligence leaders have warned against the establishment of Amotekun as proposed by the six Southwestern State governors, as alternative to Nigerian security system.
Rising from a security meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari today, January 17, at the presidential Villa, Abuja, the service chiefs advised all the stakeholders to rather join hands with the security and intelligence operatives to find solutions to the security challenges in the country.
Briefing newsmen shortly after the meeting, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar said: “I think our appeal is for all Nigerians and other stakeholders to join hands with the armed forces of Nigeria and other security and intelligence agencies to ensure that our country is secured rather than looking at other methods that are likely going to negate the national policy and community policing policy that the Federal Government has approved.
“What we expect is for all stakeholders, local governments, state governments, other stakeholders to join hands with us: let us work together to ensure that our country is secured.”
He said that the security meeting today took a critical look at the security challenges and to evaluate what the armed forces of Nigeria as well as other security and intelligence agencies are doing with regard to ensuring that the territorial integrity of Nigeria is not undermined by any individual or group of individuals.
The Chief of Air Staff said that the meeting also looked at the emerging situations in some of areas, particularly acts of banditry in some of the North Western states and other parts of the country “and we have critically looked at everything and we are satisfied with the progress we are making. We are satisfied with the support of the Federal Government to the armed forces and other security agencies in terms of procurement of platforms.
“Substantial number of these equipment are expected by the end of February. Some of the equipment we are acquiring have started arriving for the Nigerian Air Force, two helicopter gunshots have arrived on the 15th of January and we are now in the process of putting them together which will add to whatever we have.
“We are equally expecting other equipment meant for the armed forces of Nigeria and we are hoping to get them by the end of February. I am sure you are also familiar with the equipment acquisition by the Nigerian Police Force.
“I am sure you are also aware of the policy on Community Policing that was approved by Mr. President and it is going to be funded. The whole idea is to ensure that Nigeria is secured and Nigerians can go about pursuing their legitimate aspirations without any hindrance.”
The service chiefs reassured Nigerians that they are going to continue to work round the clock to ensure that the country is secured and to ensure that nobody undermines the territorial integrity and national sovereignty of Nigeria.
“We are going to keep a very close watch on what is going on and with the equipment that we are getting, definitely, the challenges we are facing in some of the theaters of operation, particularly the North East will be addressed adequately.
“We are doing everything with the other sister countries in the Lake Chad Basin working together to ensure that the Boko Haram terrorism is brought substantially to an end as quickly as possible.”
