TheNewsGuru

Tag: Security Chiefs

  • Revealed! Real reason why military chiefs snub lawmakers

    Revealed! Real reason why military chiefs snub lawmakers

    The reason why military chiefs across the armed forces snub invitations of the National Assembly (NASS) has been revealed.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reliably gathered via a very competent source that top military brass snub NASS because they get all their intervention funds directly from the presidency.

    The source, a top ranking lawmaker from the North Central geo-political zone told TNG that “they don’t really need us to get the funds they need because their funds majorly get to them directly from Aso Rock so they can afford to snub us and go unscathed.

    “The fund we appropriate for them is recurrent expenditure which mainly deals with soldiers salaries and you can never toy with that because soldiers must be paid their salaries.

    “Even recruitment exercises are funded by the presidency so you don’t even supervise or screen it because they are solely in charge.

    “It’s only once in a blue moon you see capital expenditure from the armed forces because in most cases the presidency handles such things.

    “We have seen situations here where principal officers summon military chiefs and they just flagrantly disobey NASS.

    “Barely four weeks ago we invited them and they were busy organising a talk shop on national security while lawmakers waited here in vain and several others occasions.

    “Again, our committees are too many overseeing these armed forces, take a look at the US Congress there are only two Committees overseeing the armed forces and intelligence.

    “Here we have Committees supervising, the army, airforce, navy and a committee on defence itself and other committees supervising NIA, DSS and so forth.

    “In the US Congress all you have is the Committee on armed forces and interior supervising both the military and intelligence departments.

    “Here we have nine committees supervising these agencies so at the end of the day, the Chief of Army Staff, COAS will be supervised separately by the committee on Defence and army.

    “Same thing applies to the Navy and Airforce and these security agencies get their funds mainly from the presidency and you expect them to honour you.

    “Most of the chiefs relate with our principals directly so they don’t really care what happens at the Committee level”.

  • Why Buhari must sack security chiefs now – Gov Wike

    Why Buhari must sack security chiefs now – Gov Wike

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to change security chiefs in order to allow for fresh ideas and strategy in tackling the threats to internal insecurity in Nigeria.

    Governor Wike made the call during the wreath laying and parade ceremony organised to mark the 2021 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration in Port Harcourt on Friday.

    The governor, who acknowledged the efforts made so far by the country’s security chiefs in the battle against insurgents, noted however that despite full military engagement with Boko Haram and killer bandits, the threats appear to be overwhelming the country’s security agencies.

    Governor Wike said, Boko Haram, bandits and killer herdsmen have continued to overrun communities, randomly killing and abducting helpless people.

    According to him, these insurgents have also destroyed private and public property with relative ease, and it is time for the Federal Government to take decisive action and end such menace.

    “A country is as strong as its Armed Forces. Her inability to defeat the Boko Haram insurgency despite years of full military engagement shows that all is not well with our approaches and commitments to the battle against the internal insecurity.

    “Today, therefore, also raises the need for all of us to be worried by the deteriorating security situation across the country and restate the call on the Federal Government to do everything necessary to bring the security threat by Boko Haram and armed bandits to a decisive end in the shortest possible time.

    “We thank the Service Chiefs for their efforts so far in the battle against the insurgents. But we also align with the concern of citizens that having seemingly reached their wit end, they should now give way for fresh hands and ideas to give the fight the impetus that it so strongly needs to ensure that Boko Haram and killer bandits are comprehensively defeated and smoked out of existence.

    “The time has come for the Federal Government to stop the preteens, change strategy, seek help from our friends and confront the urgency of the internal insecurity situation in Nigeria with every weaponry at its disposal to stop the killing, free all hostages and improve the physical security of our country for all Nigerians,” he said.

    The governor stated that all Nigerians are gracious beneficiaries of the various sacrifices made by the Armed Forces as they put their life in line to defend the country.

    According to Governor Wike, the least duty every Nigerian owe the soldiers, veterans, and their families is to continue to remember, honour and celebrate them for their extraordinary courage in service and sacrifice to the country.

    “On this solemn day and occasion therefore, we join the rest of our country to honour and pay tribute to all our soldiers who died at the various battlefields in the service of our nation.

    “We also salute and honour every serving member of Nigerian Armed Forces carrying on today in the noble tradition of those before them dutifully defending our nation’s territorial integrity.

    “They are fighting to keep us safe and secured in the face of insurgencies from Boko Haram, Bandits and other criminal elements threatening our peace and security across the country.

    “Our beloved country is still together, existing and waxing stronger as one indivisible, free, and democratic country because of your commitment and sacrifice to its unity and progress.

    “As Nigerians, our collective desire is to have a country where we can all live in unity, freedom and security. A country where our children and grandchildren can live in relative comfort and strive for a brighter future,” he stated.

    Governor Wike reiterated the need to have an enduring reward system for officers and men of the Armed Forces to encourage them in their sacrifices to the country.

    He said his administration has continued to implement such financial support policy for security personnel of Rivers origin because of the importance it places on the selfless sacrifices that they make to keep Nigeria united and in peace.

    “No amount of recompense can adequately assuage the loss of precious life or the disabling effects of permanent bodily injuries. But we shall never cease to accord profound honour that you deserve and canonise your bravery and patriotism at all times in expression of our gratitude for what you truly represent.

    “As a government, we believe that society must endeavour to move beyond the yearly ceremonial ritual and comfort speeches of today to proffer adequate care and support for the families of everyone of our soldiers who unfortunately pays the supreme price or suffers permanent disability in the line of duty to our nation.

    “It is for this reason that we have since adopted and implemented the policy framework that guarantees some financial support to the immediate families of any soldier from Rivers State that pays the supreme price or suffers permanent disability at the battlefields in the course of his or her service to our nation.

    “We have also fulfilled and continue to fulfil our promises and commitments to our veterans through the Rivers State Chapter of Nigeria legion. Two days ago, we released the sum of N70 million to the chapter,” he added.

  • Insecurity: Buhari meets Northeast governors, security chiefs in Aso Villa

    Insecurity: Buhari meets Northeast governors, security chiefs in Aso Villa

    President Muhammadu Buhari is meeting with Governors from the six Northeast states and security chiefs over rising insecurity in the region.

    At the meeting in Abuja on Monday were Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo; the National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno (retd); and the Chief of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari.

    Governors in attendance include Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum; Ahmadu Fintri of Adamawa; Bala Mohammed of Bauchi; Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe; Darius Ishaku of Taraba; and Mai Mala Buni of Yobe.

    Others are: Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu; Director-General, Department of State Services, Yusuf Bichi; Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Rufa’i; Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi and the Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammad Dingyadi.

    The meeting was held after the Governors, on Saturday, elected Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, as Chairman of the region’s Governors Forum.

    The Governors had pledged to partner with the government to fight Boko Haram and requested for more hardware for the military to tackle insurgency in the region.

    They asked the military to intensify efforts to secure hard-to-reach areas in the region and ensure safe access to farm-lands.

  • Insecurity: Buhari gives new marching orders to Service Chiefs

    Insecurity: Buhari gives new marching orders to Service Chiefs

    President Muhammadu Buhari has again challenged the nation security agencies to rejig their strategies in the ongoing battle against insurgency, banditry and other violent crimes in some parts of the country.

    The National Security Adviser (NSA) to the President, retired Maj-Gen. Babagana Mongonu, revealed this when he briefed State House correspondents on the outcome of the National Security Council meeting, presided over by President Buhari at the State House, Abuja, on Wednesday.

    He said: “Mr President has also directed that we must rejig our strategy that is both in terms of operation and intelligence we must rejig our strategy to prevent further catastrophe.

    “We must bear in mind that we owe a duty to the people that elected his government, our government and at the end of the day without securing the nation all other things cannot be addressed such as revamping the economy and also fighting corruption.’’

    According to the NSA, his office presented a memo to the Security Council on the danger of drug abuse in the society as well as the need to urgently address the problem

    He revealed that between 2011 and 2019, approximately 17 manufacturing laboratories of dangerous substances were located by the various security agencies and destroyed while an increasing activities of illegal cultivators of `Canabis’ were also recorded.

    He said criminals had resulted to the use of illegal substances and dangerous drugs like Tramadol to unleash violence on innocent citizens in the society.

    “I presented two memos. The first had to do with drug trafficking as well as drug addiction in Nigeria, and the widespread use of these substances and the dangerous impact on our social, economic situation.

    “Basically, what I told council was that this has taken on a worrisome dimension. Nigeria’s perception on the drug trafficking index has changed from the status from a transit hub to a production centre.

    “Between 2011 and 2019, approximately 17 manufacturing laboratories of dangerous substances were located by the various security agencies and destroyed. That is a large number.

    “At the same we have had increasing activities of illegal cultivators of Canabis in Nigeria.

    “These people basically use extremely large space of arable land to cultivate this illegal substance, employing militia men to protect their farms and also their storage facilities.

    “When you look at drugs, our main concern as security operatives is the ultimate destruction to the social fabric and economy of the nation.

    “There is hardly any violence crime today in Nigeria that is not propelled by the use of these hard substances. And these hard substances have been coming in from all nooks and crannies,’’ he said.

    Monguno believed that the reckless use of these dangerous substances had direct link to the insecurity being experienced across the country.

    He, therefore, stressed the need for a collective, concerted effort to deal with the menace of dangerous drugs in circulation to safeguard the country from the bottomless pit of self-destruction.

    The NSA boss disclosed that he later updated the Council on the security situation in the northwest and the north central, “in terms of looking at the issue of kidnapping, banditry and killing of innocent people.’’

    “The Chief of Defence Staff, army chief, inspector general of Police, heads of the various intelligence agencies also gave synopsis each of the current security situation and what their various organizations and agencies are doing about these situations,’’ he added.

  • Buhari meets security chiefs in Aso Villa

    Buhari meets security chiefs in Aso Villa

    President Muhammadu Buhari is currently meeting with the National Security Council, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The meeting which is expected to review security challenges in the country including the ongoing onslaught by the Nigerian military against terrorists in the North East is attended by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Boss Mustapha.

    In attendance includes Service Chiefs and head of security agencies, the Nation Security Adviser, NSA Major General Babagana Monguno, the Director-General National Intelligence Agency, NIA, and the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Adamu as well as the Director, Department of State Services, DSS.

    Other key cabinet members present are the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami and the Minister of Internal Affairs, Ra’uf Aregbesola.

    Apart from the assessment of security strategies in the country, it was reliably gathered that the meeting would deliberate on the impact of the ravaging Coronavirus pandemic on the nation’s security architecture.

    Besides, it’s expected to update and review the various successes being recorded in the fight against insurgency, banditry and other violent crimes across the country.

    ”He also seeks Allah’s protection for him and his rag-tag terror gang from the firepower of the Nigerian military”.

    Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/05/buhari-security-heads-meet-in-aso-rock/

  • [VIDEO] Gbajabiamila frustrated as Security Chiefs sends their accountants to reps on insecurity discourse

    [VIDEO] Gbajabiamila frustrated as Security Chiefs sends their accountants to reps on insecurity discourse

    The attached video shows the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila lamenting over the nonchalant attitude of the Security Chiefs of the nation.

    According to Speaker Gbajabiamila, he called a meeting of the service chiefs to know what they want and how to assist them but rather than honour the invitation they sent their accountants respectively.

    A visibly frustrated Gbajabiamila said: “I’m almost embarrassed!”

    Watch video:

  • Inside story of Buhari’s meeting with Security Chiefs

    Inside story of Buhari’s meeting with Security Chiefs

    The Federal Government has taken delivery of two fighter helicopters to boost the ongoing fight against insurgency and banditry in the country.

    The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, disclosed this when he briefed State House correspondents on the outcome of the meeting of Security Council at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Friday.

    The meeting was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Present at the meeting were Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe-Ibas; Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen Tukur Buratai; Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Gabriel Olonisakin; Minister of Defence, Bashir Magash among others. [See Photos]

    Abubakar also announced that additional fighter helicopters and other military hardware would be supplied to the nation’s armed forces to enhance their capacity in the battle fields.

    He said: “In terms of procurement of platforms, substantial number of these equipment are expected by the end of February, some of the equipment we are acquiring have started arriving.

    “For the Nigerian Air Force, two helicopter gunships arrived on the Jan. 15 and we are now in the process of putting them together to add to whatever we have already.

    “I am sure you are also familiar with the equipment acquisition by the Nigeria Police Force; I am sure you are also familiar with the policy on community policing that was approved by the President.

    “It is going to be funded and the whole idea is to ensure that Nigeria is secured and citizens can go about pursuing their legitimate aspirations without any hindrance.’’

    According to Abubakar, Nigeria is collaborating with its neighbours to completely end the Boko Haram insurgency.

    “We are doing everything with other sister countries in the Lake Chad basin, working together to ensure that Boko Haram terrorism is brought substantially to an end as much and as quickly as possible,” he said.

    He, however, appealed to all Nigerians to contribute their quota towards addressing security challenges troubling some parts of the country, NAN reports.

    He said: “Our appeal is for all Nigerians and other stakeholders, local and state governments, to join hands with the Armed Forces of Nigeria to ensure that our country is secured rather than looking at other methods that are likely going to negate the national community policing policy that the federal government has approved.”

    He assured that the nation security agencies were ready to contain all cases of insurgency or banditry in any part of the country.

    He added that the agencies would secure the lives and property of all citizens as well as the territorial integrity of the nation at all times.

    “What we want to do is to reassure Nigerians that the Armed Forces and indeed other intelligence and security agencies in Nigeria are going to continue to work round the clock to ensure that our country is secured.

    “We will ensure that nobody undermines the territorial and national sovereignty of Nigeria.

    “We are going to keep a very close watch on what is going on and with the equipment that we are getting.

    “Definitely the challenges that we are facing in some of the theatres of operation particularly the North-East will be addressed adequately.”

    He added that the meeting appraised the security situation across the country and was satisfied with the progress being made.

    “This meeting was called to critically evaluate what the Armed Force of Nigeria as well as other security and intelligence agencies are doing with regard to ensuring that the territorial integrity of Nigeria is not undermined by any individual or group of individuals.

    “The appraisal also looked at the emerging situation in some of our areas particularly acts of banditry in some of the North-Western States and other parts of the country.

    “We have critically looked at everything and we are satisfied with the progress we are making and we are satisfied with the support that the federal government is giving the armed forces and other security agencies,’’ he said.

  • JUST IN: Buhari, Security Chiefs meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari is meeting now behind closed doors with service chiefs at the Aso Villa, Abuja.

    No agenda was released prior to the meeting.

    But it is expected the president will receive briefings from the service chiefs and the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu.

    Buhari and the security chiefs today: the meeting in session

    The meeting is also expected to review the security challenges in the country, the occasional attacks by Boko Haram and ISWAP, the ambush of civilian transport and the recent execution of 11 Christian hostages by ISWAP.

    In his Christmas message, Buhari sent dire warnings to all the bad guys in the country: the insurgents, terrorists, armed robbers and kidnappers, including economic saboteurs to retrace their steps.

    He said the security forces and law enforcement agents are now positioned to deal with them.

    ”It is in line with the spirit of Christmas that I call on all elements whose actions are opposed to what the season represents, especially, insurgents, terrorists, armed robbers, kidnappers and economic saboteurs, to retrace their steps and join people of goodwill and common humanity.

    “If they fail to heed this call, they will meet their end as the armed forces, security and law-enforcement agencies are poised now to confront and defeat them.”

  • Buhari, Service Chiefs meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday met behind closed doors with Service Chiefs and heads of security agencies at the presidential villa, Abuja.

    The meeting, which held for about three hours, started around 11am.

    The security chiefs were expected to brief the President on security situation in the country including the recent killings in Kaduna State.

    The meeting might have also dwelt on the supplementary elections in some states, which were declared inconclusive.

    But none of the security chiefs briefed State House correspondents on the actual discussions at the meeting.

    When the meeting ended, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, declined to speak on the accusation leveled against the Army by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of meddlesomeness in Rivers State elections.

    Asked to react to the allegation, Buratai referred journalists to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, saying, “The IG will speak.”

    But the IGP also declined comment when approached.

    He simply said there would be no official briefing.

    Recall that INEC had condemned what it described as the role played by some soldiers and armed gangs in Rivers State, which it said led to the disruption of the electoral process.

    The National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, said the action which took place during the March 9 election was an attempt to subvert the will of the people.

    The commission based its allegation on part of the submissions made by its fact-finding committee which assessed the situation in Rivers State.

    At the meeting were Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonishakin, Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Yusuf Buratai, Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok-Ete Ibas, and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar.

    Also present were the National Security Adviser, Major Gen. Babagana Monguno, Director of National Intelligence Agency, NIA, Ahmed Abubakar, the Director General, Department of Security Service, DSS, Yusuf Bichi, and the Chief of Defence Intelligence and the Minister of Defence, Brigadier Gen. Mansur Dan-Ali.

  • Buhari meets security chiefs in Abuja

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday met behind closed doors with the nation’s security chiefs.
     
    The meeting was held inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
     
    Some of those who attended the meeting with the President are the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan Ali; National Security Adviser, Babangana Monguno; Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar; and the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.
     
    The meeting was held a few days after Boko Haram insurgents killed a midwife with the International Committee of the Red Cross, Hauwa Liman.
     
    The meeting was still ongoing as of the time of filing this report.