FG directs security agencies to end security challenges

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has directed security agencies in the country to put an end to all the security challenges facing the nation saying that government would no longer tolerate the deteriorating security situation in the country.

Director, Press & Public Relations, Ministry of Interior, Mr Mohammed Manga, in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja said Buhari gave this directive in Katsina while affirming government’s determination towards ensuring the protection of lives and properties of Nigerians.

He was represented by the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the President said that he was in the State to engage the State Government on ways to tackle the security challenges facing the State and its environs.

According to him, the wanton destruction of lives and properties in Katsina State and the entire country through banditry, kidnappings, armed robbery, rape, insurgency, and other forms of criminalities can no longer be tolerated.

Aregbesola who was accompanied by the Heads of Security Agencies in charge of internal security in the country reiterated the President’s resolve to ensuring internal security through strengthening the internal security architecture of the Ministry of Interior.

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He assured the people of Katsina State and the entire North West Zone of the country of the Federal Government’s determination to end the spate of insecurity and all criminalities plaguing Katsina State and the entire North West Zone of the country.

The President also charged the Batch ‘B’ of Agro Rangers under training at the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC) Katsina, to concentrate adequately on the training being received, with particular reference to using it on graduation, to tackle the challenges of hoodlums, extremists, kidnappers and other acts of criminalities that are terrorizing the people of the State and its environs.

He directed the security agencies in charge of internal security to continue to collaborate with relevant sister government agencies through intelligence sharing, with the view to putting an end to the prevailing security challenges facing the country.

“The Federal Government reposes full confidence in your Agency, to nip all these menaces in the bud before it escalates,” he said.

Speaking earlier, the Executive Governor of Katsina State, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari expressed confidence in the President Muhammadu Buhari’s Administration for his determination to restore peace and security in Katsina State, North-West Nigeria and indeed the entire nation.

He said that the people of Katsina State would ever be grateful to President Muhammadu Buhari, for his sympathy to the people of the State, adding that they are also grateful to the Minister of Interior, Aregbesola for representing the President on the visit.

Masari said that with Aregbesola at the helm of affairs in the Ministry of Interior, President Muhammadu Buhari’s Administration would soon witness tremendous improvement in internal security.

In his remarks, the Emir of Katsina Dr Abdulmunini Kabir Usman expressed confidence in Rauf Aregbesola as Minister of Interior appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari to spearhead the renewed vigour in tackling the problems of internal security in the country, noting his antecedents when he was Governor of Osun State.

He enjoined the Minister to develop a lasting synergy among all security agencies in which intelligence and information sharing is key.