President Muhammadu Buhari has declared that the final victory of the long and difficult war against terrorist groups, falsely masquerading under the name of Islam, is within sight.
The President made the declaration in his Sallah felicitations to Muslims in Nigeria and across the world on the successful completion of the Ramadan Fast.
He says last month’s killing of the leader of the Islamic States of West African Province, ISWAP, in an airstrike, the surrendering of thousands of terrorists, the return of fleeing communities to their homes, and speedy return of normalcy to the northeast, are indicators to the victory over the terrorists.
He explains that with the designation of bandit groups as terrorists, the challenges of banditry and kidnapping are being tackled differently in the north-western and north-central states, where the latest military acquisitions and the Armed Forces are being fanned out across the region to thwart acts of terror.
President Buhari says the government is equally getting impressive reports of the special operations to curb crude oil theft and illegal oil bunkering in the south-south, with millions of illegally refined products being impounded and illegal refineries destroyed.
In response to the disturbing rise in criminal attacks targeting law enforcement and public facilities in the South East, the President says concerted military operations to rid the region of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security Network (ESN) elements have led to the overrunning of IPOB/ESN bases, the seizure of weapons, and the arrest of a large number of suspects.
On drugs, President Buhari says the reinvigoration of the war against drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking is also showing positive results, as shown by the arrest of over 12, 300 offenders, including seven drug barons, the conviction of 1,400 offenders, and counseling, as well as the rehabilitation of about 8,000 drug users.
He notes that the seizure of over 3.4 million kilograms of drugs and cash worth over N130 billion in 2021, has been recorded while the first quarter of this year has seen the arrest of no fewer than 3,536 offenders, including security personnel and a well-known billionaire drug baron.
According to him, it is with a view to giving impetus to the concerned agency that he granted approvals for the promotion of more than 3,500 officers, the procurement of operational equipment, training for personnel and buildings for residential barracks.
He says such also made him to direct increased coordination and co-operation among security agencies, saying that an end has been brought to a silo approach among the agencies, assuring that there will be no shortage of funds to provide security for the citizens.
Abdullah Bello
pub-5160901092443552
Related Posts
