The Federal Government of Nigeria has said that it will eliminate all terrorists by December this year.
The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, said this in Abuja yesterday during a joint security press conference with the Ministers of Defence, Information and Police Affairs as well as the Chief of Defence Staff.
Aregbesola said: “Nigerians have the assurance of all of us that their security is guaranteed. So, we’re here to assure you that you’re safe, that is why we’re here from the instructions of the president that you’re safe and that each day going to December, our safety and security will be better.
“What we face mostly now are clashes of cowardly attacks from those that have been routed in one locality or the other moving to give a false impression that they’re still strong. Our ultimate goal is to eliminate them and restore total peace in every inch of Nigerian soil; that we’re going to do by God’s grace, by December of this year.
“It is sounding tall but takes it home, we’re determined to ensure that every inch of the Nigerian soil is safe. The determination is there and the order has been given.”
He said the current security challenges were exacerbated by the restrictions and deprivations of COVID-19 despite the government’s ameliorative measures.
“But we shall continue to protect the lives and property of Nigerians and foreigners in our midst. We shall continue to work for the peace of the nation and deter elements that constitute threats to the people. We shall bear the full powers of the government to secure every inch of our land. We shall not rest until peace is fully restored in Nigeria,” he assured.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said the worst was over as the government had now put the terrorists, bandits and their ilk on the run.
He said the current security challenges facing the country had been very daunting, from terrorism to banditry, kidnapping, separatist violence, crude oil theft, armed robbery and sundry crimes.
According to him, “It’s undoubtedly the greatest challenge to the peace and security of our great nation since the civil war from 1967 to 1970.
“It is the kind of challenge that would have overwhelmed many nations, but thanks to the purposeful leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari. We can say, I want to repeat that the worst is over and peace and security are gradually returning to the land.
“Please don’t misunderstand or misrepresent this assertion. We may still witness isolated cases of security challenges here and there, but it’ll not be on the scale that we have witnessed in the past.
“Terrorists and bandits and co can run but cannot hide, and this has been demonstrated by the arrest of those who attacked a church in Owo. These criminals can run, but cannot hide, as we’ve seen in the decimation of the cowards who ambushed the Brigade of Guards troops in Abuja.”
He stressed the government was “Not saying the battle is over. No. What we’re saying is that our military and other security agents have been able to contain the daunting security challenges we face and that the worst is indeed over. We have now put the terrorists, bandits and their ilk on the run and we will not relent until they have been crushed.”
Mohammed appealed to all Nigerians to continue to support the security agencies in their onerous task of keeping the country safe.
“We must also realise that security is the business of everyone, hence the tagline ‘if you see something, say something.’ Terrorists or bandits are not spirits. They’re human beings, and some of them reside in our communities. They must all be exposed and crushed for peace to reign.”
‘Media should amplify our successes’
The information minister urged the media to give a big play to the recent successes recorded by the security agencies in tackling terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, separatist violence and oil theft, among others “Just as they gave prominence to the reporting of the security challenges at their peak.
“It’s instructive that when the terrorists and bandits strike, they get a very prominent mention in the media, but when the security agencies hit them hard, as they are doing now, a section of the media suddenly goes quiet. This is not helpful for the morale of the fighting forces and even the citizens.”
