President Muhammadu Buhari has felicitated with Muslims on the Eid Mubarak celebrations, reiterating his administration’s commitment to tackling terrorism in the country.
Buhari in a statement on Sunday by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, said the final victory against Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province is within sight.
According to the President, the difficulties of banditry and kidnapping are being addressed differently in the North-western and North Central states as a result of the identification of bandit groups as terrorists.
According to him, the Federal Government is acquiring the most recent military purchases around the region in order to stop terrorist attacks.
“After a period of fasting and reflection, this year, we have cause to welcome the occasion in hope. The battle waged against terrorists who falsely masquerade under the name of Islam is approaching its conclusion,’’ said the President.
“The fight has been long and hard. The final victory is within sight. Boko Haram and its offshoots’ final embers are now fading.
“Last month, the leader of ISWAP was killed in an airstrike. Since the New Year, thousands of fighters have surrendered to enter rehabilitation programmes. The territories they used to occupy are now seeing the return of those who were forced to flee their barbarity. Normality is finally beginning to return to the Northeast. It is a long process. Yet it is one we are, together, now embarking upon.”
Regarding crude oil theft and illicit bunkering in the South-South zone, the President stated that his administration is receiving excellent reports on special operations to combat the threat.
One of these impressive reports is the impoundment of millions of illegally refined products, as well as the destruction of multiple illegal refineries.
He also provided his assent for the construction of a naval base at Oguta, Imo State, to address the region’s security challenges.
He added, “While we are making progress cleaning the environment, some evil people are busy causing more pollution and destruction.
‘‘In response to the disturbing rise in criminal attacks targeting law enforcement and public facilities in the South-East, concerted military operations to rid the region of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security Network (ESN) elements have, in recent weeks, led to the overrunning of IPOB/ESN bases, the seizure of weapons and the arrest of a large number of suspects.
“The reinvigoration of the war against drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking is also showing positive results as shown by the arrest of over 12, 300 offenders including seven drug barons: the conviction of 1,400, counseling and rehabilitation of about 8,000 drug users.
“The seizure of over 3.4 million kilograms of drugs and cash worth over N130 billion, all in 2021 has been recorded while the first Quarter of this year has seen the arrest of no fewer than 3,536 offenders including security personnel and a well-known billionaire drug baron. The seizure of more than 65,000 tons of assorted drugs in this period sets a record for the nation.”
President Buhari approved the promotion of over 3,500 officers, the procurement of operational equipment, personnel training, and the construction of residential barracks as part of his attempts to increase the number of security operatives.
Even as he commanded increased coordination and collaboration among security agencies, claiming that a silo approach among the agencies had been put to an end, guaranteeing that there would be no shortage of cash to provide security for civilians.
