Hours to his to trip to the United Kingdom for a routine medical check-up, President Muhammadu Buhari ordered Nigeria’s military Chiefs to frontally take the battle to the recalcitrant bandits and their sponsors terrorising the country.
He specifically ordered the chiefs to “take out” the aggressors, noting that their reign of terror must be brought to an end forthwith.
The order by the President negates the position canvassed by Islamic Cleric, Sheik Abubakar Gumi and his likes who have been calling on the Nigerian government to dialogue with the terrorists.
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Buhari issued the directive during his meeting with the military Chiefs at the presidential villa, Abuja, on Tuesday.
The National Security Adviser (NSA), retired Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno, briefed the media on the outcome of the meeting said: “Mr President has stated very clearly that this problem must be brought to an end but using the traditional means that the armed forces have been trained to deploy.
”Mr President has made it very clear to both the intelligence and operational elements that their first assignment will be to identify the leaders of these bandits and kidnappers and take them out in order to restore confidence in those areas.
”Mr President has said that he will no longer tolerate a situation where bandits and kidnappers are the ones dictating the pace and setting the tones and he will not also condone a situation in which our own operations are reaction rather than being proactive,’’ he said.
Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha; Defense Minister, Major-General Bashir Magashi (Rtd); and the Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari and the National Security Adviser, Major-General Babagana Monguno (Rtd), attended the meeting alongside the four military Chiefs.
Buhari left Abuja for London after the meeting as earlier stated in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President, Mr Femi Adesina on Monday.
