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Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru
President Bola Tinubu is committed to ending insecurity in Nigeria, particularly in the South-East and Cross River State, the Minister of Defence, Dr Badaru Abubakar, stated on Thursday.
Speaking in Enugu, Abubakar praised the administration’s progress in combating insecurity nationwide, especially in the Southeast and Cross River State, over the past year.
He emphasised Tinubu’s renewed determination to eliminate all forms of insecurity, building on the successes achieved so far.
This commitment aligns with Tinubu’s Independence Day address, where he highlighted his administration’s efforts to restore peace and stability in the country.
The President noted that his administration has eliminated over 300 Boko Haram and bandit commanders and restored peace to hundreds of communities in the North. He also promised to address the root causes of insecurity, including poverty and unemployment.
He said, “There is a renewed determination to do more in the fight against all forms of insecurity including the agitations for Biafra by President Tinubu.
“President Tinubu has directed me to come and engage with you to find a lasting solution to insecurity.
“Without security, there would be no peace and development. I know that people in this zone are predominantly businessmen and women who need security and peace for their businesses to flourish.
“We need to get candid suggestions and information on how we will practically do more and enthrone lasting security and peace in the South-East and Cross River State axis of the country.
“If insecurity persists, it should be known that it is our people whose lives and property are being threatened and destroyed; it is our people that are kidnapped and organs harvested as well.”
The minister said that the Federal Government and security agencies needed the cooperation of all residents especially the leaders as it involves getting actionable intelligence to stem insecurity from its roots in the zone.
He appreciated heads of security agencies and leaders of the zone and Cross River State who made the sacrifice to attend the engagement; adding, “President Tinubu is appreciative of all your efforts so far and he needs more.”
After the engagement, the minister said that the stakeholders had a robust and spirited interaction which was fruitful and implementable to improve the general security of the zone.
“There was a robust suggestion on how to deploy technology to tackle insecurity head-on and restore the people’s confidence and safety in the area,” he said.
Speaking, Maj.-Gen. John Nwoga (rtd) said that the insecurity in the zone was heightened by activities of social media bloggers, who keep on repeating old videos of gruesome criminal activities to create fear and panic for reasons best known to them.
“There is a need for our people to collectively deal with negative press, fake news and misleading videos being circulated within the zone through social media,” Nwoga said.
In his remark, the General Officer Commanding 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Hassan Dada said that the Nigerian Army was putting in place a robust strategy to ensure a safe and seamless yuletide.
“Through the Joint Security Task-Force in South-East, code-named ‘Operation UDO KA’, we are going to create a safe and secured environment to enable the usual mass return for Christmas once more this year; even as we have improved security generally,” Dada said.
Earlier, the minister visited and held a closed-door meeting with the GOC, Maj.-Gen. Hassan Dada, and Commanders, Principal Officers and Officers at the Division’s Headquarters, Enugu.
Abubakar also visited and held a closed-door meeting with the Air Officer Commanding Ground Training Command of the Nigerian Air Force, AVM Usman Abdullahi, and Commanders, Principal Officers and Officers at GTC Command Headquarters, Enugu.
