21/4/22 Captives/PMB

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday met with heads of security establishments and some Ministers at the State House in Abuja.

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed security agencies to immediately rescue all persons being held captive by terrorists and other criminal elements unhurt.

The National Security Adviser, NSA, retired Major General Babagana Monguno, stated this in Abuja, while briefing State House Correspondents on the outcome of today’s security meeting.

The NSA said President Buhari had expressed unhappiness about the recent ugly security challenges in the country in which innocent lives were waisted and others taken captive.

He said heads of security agencies would urgently swing into action with the much-needed vigour and the deployment of newly-acquired technology to carry out the President’s directive.

The NSA however called on Nigerians to support security agencies with credible intelligence to enable them secure the nation.

Major General Monguno acknowledged that some elements in the security circle could compromise intelligence provided and jeopardise the lives of patriotic volunteers, but gave the assurance that measures had been taken against that.

Also briefing newsmen, the Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Usman Alkali, assured that necessary evaluations had been made to ensure peaceful conducts of the forthcoming staggered elections in Ekiti and Osun States, and next year’s general elections.

The meeting comes after recommendations by the National Council of State over the security challenges in the country.

Physically in attendance were the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, the Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Gambari and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major Gen. Babagana Monguno.

Ministers at the meeting include Bashir Magashi (Defense) and Rauf Aregbesola (Interior).

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Farouk Yahaya, Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Oladayo Amao were also in attendance.

The Chief of Defense Staff, General Lucky Irabor was represented.

Also in attendance were the Inspector-General of Police, Alkali 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 Abubakar.

Edited by Wendy Nweke