Security Report From North-East Is Worrisome, Says Defence Minister

The Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, says despite improvements in security in parts of the country, the report from the North-East is worrisome.

Dan-Ali said this on Monday while briefing journalists after a meeting between President Muhammadu Buhari and security chiefs.

“We have seen a lot of improvements in the security situation in the country, especially in Zamfara and Benue states. If you go along the Niger Delta also (you will see) the same thing, but in the North East we are having worrisome reports which we looked into critically and we are taking an absolute decision on,” the minister who was also at the meeting, told journalists.

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At the meeting, which lasted for more than two and half hours, the security chiefs reviewed the security situation in the country after which the President asked them to make the country safe.

“[The President] directed that we continue to step up our game to ensure that the nation is safe and people go about their activities in a very safe environment,” said the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin, who also spoke to State House correspondents after the meeting.

General Olonisakin explained that the security chiefs also briefed President Buhari about the progress made so far in the military operations in some troubled states, especially in Benue, Zamfara, and Taraba.

The meeting is President Buhari’s first official meeting since he returned to the country on Saturday after a 10-day working vacation in London.

Those at the meeting include the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, as well as the Chiefs of Air and Naval Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, and Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas.

The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris; Acting Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr Matthew Seiyefa, and Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Abubakar, were also present.

Also in attendance were the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha; and the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, among others.