By Shakirudeen Bankole
As the nation’s security forces grapple with the growing and destructive powers of insurgent and bandit groups in the country, the Federal Government appears to be bowing to public pressure on the need to change its current tactics and approaches to taming the criminal elements.
While concerns mount over government’s struggle to maintain its earlier advantage of decimating the insurgents and recover more territories from Boko Haram, the sect appears to continue to reinforce, striking its targets intermittently.
A recent successful covert operation by one of America’s topmost elite forces, Navy SEAL, to rescue an American kidnapped and held in the country, and the many killings and kidnappings of vulnerable people pointed to the seeming helplessness of the country against the armed groups.
The situation is made worse by the recent violent outbursts that trailed the hitherto peaceful nationwide protest against police brutality, which led to killings, destruction of properties, and looting of Police arms and ammunition, among others.
As the situation continued to be tensed, Nigerians are clamouring for innovation in the government’s approach to addressing the situation.
From what appeared to be a submission to the wishes of the people, President Muhammadu Buhari, has summoned Security Chiefs and other officials to a close door meeting Tuesday at the Presidential villa in Abuja.
The meeting is the second of such in less than two weeks, and some analysts are already pre-empting it could lead to the long demanded removal and replacement, for instance, of the Service Chiefs.
The meeting is said to be attended by the National Security Adviser to the President, Gen Monguno and some Ministers.
Also in attendance are the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai; and the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas.
Others were Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Sadique Abubakar; Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu; Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Rafa’i Abubakar; and the Director-General of the Directorate of State Services, Yusuf Bichi.
“The meeting is graded a top security management meeting, and far reaching decisions, which could include a reshuffle in the country’s security arrangements could be reached,” a source told The New Diplomat.
