Security Chiefs Get Orders On B-Haram, IPOB, Others

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, directed service chiefs and heads of security operatives yesterday to arrest all security threats against the unity of the country.
The marching order came after a closed-door meeting the service chiefs and other security agencies had with the President at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
IPOB members at Federal High Court Abuja. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan Briefing State House correspondents after the meeting which lasted over three hours, Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, General Gabriel Olonishakin, said the directive was to promote the unity of the country and protect lives and property of the citizenry.
He said the security chiefs were told to enhance their operations and ensure that troops carried out their assignments effectively.
“We have been meeting with Mr. President for the last three hours. All we have done is to update him on all security issues around the country, within the country and outside the country where our troops are. “Of course, we have just updated him because he is aware of what’s been happening. He has been receiving regular briefings from the Acting President and he has also been going through the print and electronic media to follow the happenings within the country. “After the meeting, he gave directives on some areas we should look at so as to enhance our operations in the country.
“In his address, he talked about the unity of the nation which is non-negotiable and all the military have been fully instructed to ensure that that directive is carried out to the letter.” On whether there was a directive from President Buhari on alleged composition of secret service by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, he said: “The issues of security, every security threat, all security threats were treated one after the other — ranging from terrorism to kidnapping, herdsmen/farmers clash, to the IPOB issue, all were treated. Comments were made as to what to do as regards those issues.” Asked whether the military was mobilizing forces to the South-East as a result of IPOB’s continuous agitation for self-determination of State of Biafra, Olonishakin said: “Every security (issue), like I said, has been treated and we are going to enhance our operations in all the areas we need to do that.

“Like I said, he has given the necessary directives which will be carried out by the military and the security agencies.” On the assurance the service chiefs gave to the President on his directive, the Defence chief said: “The assurance is that he also directed that we must ensure that the lives and properties of the citizens are protected and we must make sure that we secure the whole nation and also that troops that are outside carry out their jobs effectively.” On the renewed onslaught of the Boko Haram in the North East, he said: “On the Boko Haram issue, you all know it is asymmetric warfare. It is not that the Boko Haram has stepped up their game, it is just the issue of suicide bombing that has been the problem. “Of course, we are also working with intelligence agencies to make sure that we address that menace.”