President Bola Tinubu met with heads of security agencies in the country, on Thursday, charging them to demolish all bandits camps and rescue abducted victims across the country
The meeting which lasted for hours also centered on how to provide an enabling environment for the conduct of the 2027 general elections
Addressing State House correspondents after the meeting, Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd), said they were at the Presidential Villa to brief the President on the security situation in the country, adding that as the election is drawing near, it is important to keep the President abreast of what is happening
Musa said the meeting was attended by all heads of security agencies and and President Tinubu directed them to go all out, “fish out and rescue all those that have been abducted, kidnapped, wherever they are
“There shouldn’t be any camp of any Terrorist or bandits anywhere in Nigeria,” he quoted the President to have said
The Minister said, “We had an intensive discussion, and Mr President made it very clear he wants a free, fair, and credible election. We must do everything possible to ensure that the country is safe and secure for the citizens to go out and vote. And so, we want to assure Nigerians that we are committed. We are determined to ensure that we provide safety and security for all.”
Musa said it is important for all political parties to understand that the “security forces are going to be neutral, we’re going to ensure that we give everybody opportunity to go and serve, so they have nothing to worry about, nothing to be afraid of, and nobody is going to intimidate them for whatever reasons We are all professionals. We are fully committed.
“As we go forward, we assure Nigerians that we’re fully committed So we thank Mr. President for his support to the armed Forces for his support to other agencies, and to assure Nigeria that we’re all working as a team, as Nigerians for Nigeria. We assure you that.”
Speaking on the welfare of security personnel, the Minister said so many things had been done in that regard
“From increment in the recruitment processes, training exercises, procurement I want to assure you very soon, Mr. President, is coming to commission a set of new aircraft and helicopters that have been bought.”
“I think almost about 10 of them in number, and to show Nigerians that despite the economic issue, the issue of security is in the front burner of Mr President’s view.
“So, for us, we are very happy The recent increment of salaries for members of the armed forces. I’m sure very soon that that of the police and all others have been addressed, including those of the pensioners. Nobody is going to be left behind.
“Mr President wants every Nigerian and every citizen to be happy with what is ongoing, and he is fully committed in the peaceful effort on what we are doing today and we want Nigerians to put their hands together to make sure that Nigeria remains free.”