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Tag: Security Chiefs

  • Just in: READ details of security chiefs meeting after Tinubu’s telecast over nationwide protests

    Just in: READ details of security chiefs meeting after Tinubu’s telecast over nationwide protests

    The details of the meeting amongsecurity chiefs across all structures on the ongoing nationwide protest has emerged.

    The meeting, held at the Defence Headquarters, was attended by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, and other heads of security agencies.

    According to Gen. Musa, the military and security agencies are working together to identify and bring to justice those behind the call for regime change.

    He said that the military is committed to protecting the country and its citizens, and will only take action against those who pose a threat to national security.

    “I want to appreciate Nigerians for their understanding, for their commitment to upholding law and order.

    “We have had issues in the past few days, but you can see that people have seen reason for us not to continue with the destruction, to stop the looting, to stop giving opportunities for others to subvert our nation and to destroy our nation.

    “They have also seen reasons to join hands together with the security forces to make Nigeria better.

    “We want to assure them we on this side that we are fully committed to Nigeria, we love the country, we are mindful of the fact that we have been equipped and so we are duty bound to protect the country.

    “We are only after those that are against the states, not those that are innocent.

    “So I want to make that very clear, and we will continue to work together as a team to support Mr President in achieving his mandate of peace and tranquility in our dear country, Nigeria,” he said.

    On his part, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja said the army is committed to combating protests and riots.

    “I checked the number of patrols that troops conduct, the number of ambushes that are undertaken on daily basis, the number of violent insurgents that have been eliminated, incapacitated, and other indices, and it has not dropped by whatever measure.

    “Also, we have continued to expand the frontier of peace and security in Borno State.

    “Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are being returned back to Kukawa and some other places as I speak to you, which are indices of return to peace and stability.

    “So the troops are not relenting in their operational commitment in the field on our contingency plan in the event that the situation degenerates.

    “I want to also assure you that our estimates looking into the future suggest that the situation will not degenerate, but we need cooperation of every stakeholder in Nigeria to achieve that,” he said.

    The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla, and the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, also reiterated their commitment to ensuring safety and security in their respective domains.

    The security chiefs called for collaboration and cooperation from all stakeholders to achieve national unity and cohesion. They said that the military is people-centric and not interested in harming innocent citizens, but will take action against those who cross the line.

    The joint news conference was attended by various heads of security agencies, including the Inspector-General of Police and representatives from the Department of State Service, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

  • Unending nationwide protests:Tinubu in closed door session with security chiefs

    Unending nationwide protests:Tinubu in closed door session with security chiefs

    As the nationwide protests continue to rage on, President Bola Tinubu is currently in closed door session with heads of security and paramilitary operatives under the aegis of National Security Council at the Presidential Villa

    The Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, General Christopher Musa is leading the service Chiefs and other military and paramilitary heads to the meeting.

    This is coming amidst the nationwide protests against hunger and bad governance in the country.

    Recall that President Tinubu on Sunday in a national broadcast had pleaded with the organizers of the nationwide protests to suspend especially as it has gone violent in some states with the attendant loss of lives and destruction of property.

    The President, who said that he has heard the grievances of the protesters loud and clear, also warned that he would not sit and watch some people used by opposition politicians to destroy the democracy in the country.

    Also in the meeting are Vice President Kashim Shettima, the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun among others.

  • BREAKING: NSA, Service Chiefs in closed-door meeting with Senate over security crisis

    BREAKING: NSA, Service Chiefs in closed-door meeting with Senate over security crisis

    National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu and the nation’s service chiefs have entered a Closed-Door meeting over the security in the country.

    Those in attendance include the Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, the Chief of Army Staff, Taoreed Lagbaja, the Chief of Air Staff, Hassan Abubakar and the Chief of Naval Staff, Emmanuel Ogalla.

    Others are the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; the Director General of the State Services, Yusuf Magaji Bichi, and the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai Abubakar.

     

    Ministers in attendance include the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru; Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle; Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Geidam; Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo and the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun.

    Prior to the closed-door session, Senate President Godswill Akpabio apologised for commencing behind schedule.

    “I want to thank the service chiefs who were earlier here in the Senate before we adjourned. The only addition is that we now felt that the ministers should also come because they are supervising most of the finances of these security agencies”

    “We can talk security but we need money also procure equipment and to do a lot of things. Your presence here will give us insights into how funding is being handled to ensure the security of lives and properties.

    “The Senate decided to take this option for us to have a session because of the various petitions that we have received from our constituents. As part of our major oversight function, we decided to do this through the Committee of a Whole.”

    The  meeting comes a week after the Red chamber invited the security chiefs but postponed it following the absence of the defence chief and the NSA.

     

     

     

  • Insecurity: Senate to summon service chiefs, inspector General of Police and National security adviser

    Insecurity: Senate to summon service chiefs, inspector General of Police and National security adviser

    Following the rising insecurity in the country, the Senate on Thursday resolved to summon the service chiefs Senate to Summon service chiefs, inspector General of Police, and National security adviser.

    The red chamber took the decision on Thursday after deliberating a motion on the kidnap of five female students from the Federal University Dunsin-Ma in Katsina state on Wednesday.

    Those to be summoned include the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa; Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla; and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Hassan Abubakar.

    Also to be invited are the Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

    The lawmakers asked security agencies to be more proactive and ensure the rescue of the abducted female students as well as the corps members kidnapped by terrorists in Zamfara State.

    They urged the military to conduct special operations to dislodge bandits in the North-West and in other parts of the country and also called on the Federal Government to address the manpower deficit in the armed forces and police.

    The senators also emphasised the need for the creation of state police as one of the solutions to the security challenges in the country.

    However, no date has been fixed yet for the planned meeting with the service chiefs.

    No fewer than five female students of the Federal University Dutsin-Ma (FUDMA), in Katsina State were on Wednesday abducted by suspected terrorists, with police confirming the arrest of one suspect in connection with the incident.

    The victims were said to have been kidnapped in their residence located behind Mariamoh Ajiri Memorial International School along Tsaskiya Road.

    The students were abducted in the early hours of Wednesday at about 2:30 a.m.

     

  • Organised Crime: There’s need to adopt both non-kinetic to kinetic approach to achieve success – Critical stakeholders [Photos]

    Organised Crime: There’s need to adopt both non-kinetic to kinetic approach to achieve success – Critical stakeholders [Photos]

    …say Nig rated second in Africa and fifth worldwide in crime index

    Critical stakeholders on Tuesday in Abuja agreed that to effectively checkmate organised crime in Nigeria there’s need to quickly adopt both the kinetic and non kinetic approach to achieve success.

    Speaking at a one-day international conference put together by Igbinedion University, Okada, Buratai Centre for Contemporary Security Affairs and other partnering agencies with the theme: ‘Organised Crime Network as Emergent Threats to National Security’ at Army Resource center, security experts collectively agreed only the kinetic approach which is 20percent in most cases is not enough to combat organised crime.

    The international confab which was attended by ex-COAS, Lt Gen Abdulrahman Dambazau, Retd, another ex-COAS, Gen TY Buratai, all serving Service Chiefs, NSA former military top brass, the diplomatic corps and other critical stakeholders.

    The Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Major General TA Lagbaja who was represented clearly stated in his goodwill message that the kinetic approach alone can no longer combat organised crime as the collaboration of community leaders, community dwellers and traditional institutions are needed to combat it and this part is the non kinetic approach.

    He explained that “organised crime is like a wild fire and what can easily cage it is the non kinetic approach using community leaders, community dwellers, intelligence tools to gather credible information on how to checkmate organised crime.

    “Kinetic approach is just 20percent while non kinetic is 80percent and the implication here is that you need people to allow the non kinetic approach to succeed.

    “To this end, you need community leaders, people in the axis to achieve results particularly in the Niger Delta you cannot stop crude oil siphoning without the people assisting you.

    In his brief submission, IUO Chancellor, Professor Sheikh Ahmad Abdullahi said” I expect this conference to provide a blueprint to help curb organised crime in Nigeria and by extension Africa and worldwide.

    “Before now the rate of crime was recorded arithmetically but now it is in geometric form so we need to think of the kinetic theory to use in combating organised crime.

    “To checkmate the emerging threat we need to be ready to find ways and means to dislodge the threat be it organised or otherwise.

    Former COAS and ex-minister of Interior, Lt Gen Abdulrahman Dambazau in his goodwill and also chaired the conference went down memory lane to the days 419, Boko Haram, the Italian Mafia and the history of organised crime.

    The Keynote speaker, Chairman, National Police Commission, NPC and ex-IGP, Dr Solomon Arase who was represented by Prof Omorege Edobar gave a vivid picture of how organised crime started in Nigeria and on how to effectively combat it.

    Arase in his presentation said, 419 of the early 1990s, Money Laundering,Ponzi Schemes are products of induced organised crime bearing semblance of Boko Haram in 2007-2009 which spread across North East, the Niger Delta militancy and the banditry in the North West.

  • Insecurity: President Tinubu, holds first meeting with security chiefs

    Insecurity: President Tinubu, holds first meeting with security chiefs

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday  held his first meeting with security chiefs at the presidential villa in Abuja.

    Chief of Defense Staff, General Lucky Irabor; Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Farouk Yahaya; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo; the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Amao, and the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba were all in attendance at the meeting.

    Others are the Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS), Yusuf Bichi; the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai Abubakar.

    The purpose of the  meeting was to drive the way forward for a more secured Nigeria.

    Recall that President met with the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, at the Villa on Wednesday.

    Tinubu, upon his inauguration on Monday, noted that security, health, education and infrastructural development would form his major priorities as President.

    Before inauguration, the president said he would hit the ground running from day one of his assumption of office.

  • Insecurity: Senators in close door session with security chiefs

    Insecurity: Senators in close door session with security chiefs

     

    Apparently the security situation in the country has assumed a larger than life posture since the first week of July after terrorists stormed Kuje Correctional facility and casually walked away their detained members.

    To stem the tide, the leadership of the Senate is currently in a meeting with Heads of Security Agencies.

    The meeting started a few minutes past 2.00 pm at the Senate Wing National Assembly Complex on Wednessday.

    Some of the Senators present are the Chairman, Senate Committee on Defence, Senator Aliyu Wamakko; Chairman, Senate Committee on Navy, George Sekibo; and the Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Senator Abdullahi DanBaba.

    TheNewsGuru .com, (TNG) recalls that the Opposition lawmakers had given the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd.), a six-week ultimatum to resolve insecurity in the country or face impeachment.

    Also, last week their counterparts in the House of Representatives had a similar meeting with security chiefs.

    Details later…

  • Buhari summons Security Chiefs, others over nation’s security challenges

    Buhari summons Security Chiefs, others over nation’s security challenges

    President Muhammadu Buhari has summoned a security meeting in sequel to the recommendations by the council of State over the security challenges facing some parts of the country.

    Gov. Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa had on April 14 briefed State House correspondents on the outcome of the meeting of the Council of State, where he announced that the president would be meeting security chiefs this week, over the current security situation in the country.

    He said the meeting followed recommendations and comments by the Council of State.

    He said the necessary measures would be taken to ensure that farmers across the country carry out their activities without any hindrance to boosting food production in the country.

    Newsmen reports that President Buhari had on Wednesday at the meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) warned of tougher security measures in restive parts of the country and review of operations and strategy.

    He reassured Nigerians that the efforts that resulted in relative peace in South-South, and rescuing of North-East from the hold of terrorists would be ramped up.

    According to him, the major security challenges have remained in the North Central and North West, saying, “We are going to be very tough.’’

    The meeting held at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, was attended by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, some cabinet Ministers, Service Chiefs and heads of security establishments at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Others at the meeting included, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation; Boss Mustapha; the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari; and the National Security Adviser (NSA), retired Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno.

    Also in attendance were the Inspector-General of Police, Baba Usman; the Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS), Yusuf Bichi; and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai.

  • Buhari hosts Governors, Security Chiefs, others to Iftar dinner

    Buhari hosts Governors, Security Chiefs, others to Iftar dinner

    President Muhammadu Buhari has hosted Governors of the 36 States of the Federation, security chiefs and heads of para-military organisations to Iftar dinner at the State House, Abuja, on Tuesday.

    According to reports, some of the presidential guests had earlier joined the president in performing the Magrib prayer at the Aso Villa Mosque before the commencement of the breaking of fast.

    The president had hosted the leadership of the nation’s judiciary to Iftar dinner on Thursday.

    At the event, President Buhari pledged that the Executive arm of the government would continue to respect the judiciary within the boundaries laid out in the Constitution in order to strengthen the country’s democracy.

  • President Buhari meets with security chiefs over Abuja-Kaduna train attack

    President Buhari meets with security chiefs over Abuja-Kaduna train attack

    Following Monday night’s terrorist attacks on Abuja-Kaduna bound train by bandits, President Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday, met behind closed door with security chiefs.

     

    The Abuja-Kaduna bound train was conveying about 970 passengers from Abuja to Kaduna at about 7.45 p.m. on the fateful day.

     

    The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Faruk Yahaya, had on Tuesday visited the scene of the attack, where he ordered troops to intensify search and rescue operations as well as hunt down the terrorists.

     

    Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo, also visited hospitals in Kaduna on Tuesday where injured victims are being treated.

     

    Those at the meeting with the President include all service chiefs, Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba and Director-General of the State Security Services, Yusuf Bichi.

     

    The Kaduna-bound train, which left Abuja 6 p.m, on Monday, was attacked by suspected terrorists around 7.45 p.m., with just 15 minutes’ drive before arriving Kaduna.

     

    Kaduna State Commissioner for Home Affairs and Internal Security, Samuel Aruwan, on Tuesday, said the train had been secured by military personnel, and that government had evacuated passengers on board.

     

    He said staff of Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (KADSEMA) and Nigeria Red Cross, Kaduna chapter, conducted the evacuation.