Nigeria’s unity: Buhari issues marching orders to military

IN line with the sentiments expressed in his latest broadcast to Nigerians, President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered that military to do everything that is necessary to preserve the nation’s unity.

He gave the directive at a meeting of the Security Council attended by service chiefs and head of other security agencies at his residence in Abuja on Tuesday.

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Gabriel Olanishakin, who briefed State House correspondents after the meeting, said security services updated the president on developments in the country.

He said the president insisted that the unity of the country was not negotiable and therefore instructed the military to carry out his instructions to the letter.

The defence boss said: “We have been in a meeting with Mr. President for the last three hours. All we have done is to update him on all security issues around the country, within the country and outside the country where our troops are.”

“Of course we have just updated him because he is aware of what’s been happening.

“He has been receiving regular briefings from the acting president and he has also been going through the print media and electronic media to follow the happenings in the country.

“After the meeting, he has directed on some areas we should look at so as to enhance our operations in the country.

“In his address, he talked about the unity of the nation which is non-negotiable.

“We have all been fully instructed to ensure that that directive is carried out to the letter.”

On the issue of the Independent Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Olonishakin affirmed that all security issues were addressed, saying: “The issues of security, every security threat, all security threats were treated one after the other ranging from terrorism to kidnapping, herdsmen/farmers clash, to IPOB issue, were all treated. Comments were made as to what to do as regards those issues.”

When asked whether the military would now mobilize to the south east, he said: “Every security like I said have been treated and we are going to enhance our operations in all the areas we need to do that.

“Like I said he has given the necessary directives which will be carried out by the military and the security agencies.”

The CDS revealed that Buhari also directed the military to ensure the safety of lives and property.

“The assurance is that he also directed that we must ensure that the life and property of the citizens are protected and we must make sure that we secure the whole nation and also that troops that are outside, carry out their jobs effective,” he stated.

On Boko Haram, he pointed out that it was not as if the terrorist group was waxing stronger but only fighting asymmetric warfare involving suicide bombing.

“On the Boko Haram issue, you all know is an asymmetric warfare. It is not that the Boko Haram have stepped up their game, it is just the issue of suicide bombing that has been the problem and of course we also working with the security agencies and the intelligence agencies to make sure that we address that menace,” he declared.