President Bola Tinubu is determined to end all forms of insecurity in the South-East and Cross River State of the country especially the agitations for Biafra restoration.
The Minister of Defence, Dr. Badaru Abubakar, disclosed this on Thursday, while addressing heads of security agencies and security stakeholders within the South-East and Cross River State.
According to him, Tinubu-led administration had done
“tremendously well in the past one year in the fight against insecurity throughout the country especially in the South-East and Cross River State axis.”
He emphasised that there is a renewed determination to do more in the fight against all forms of insecurity by President Tinubu, noting that cooperation and active involvement of stakeholders are needed in that direction.
He said, “President Tinubu has directed me to come and engage with you to find a lasting solution to insecurity.
“Without security, there would be no peace and development. I know that people of this zone are predominantly businessmen and women that needed security and peace for their businesses to flourish.
“We need to get candid suggestions and information on how we will practically do more and enthrone lasting security and peace in the South-East and Cross River State axis of the country.
“If insecurity persists, it should be known that it is our people whose lives and property that are being threatened and destroyed; it is our people that are kidnapped and organs harvested as well.”
He appreciated heads of security agencies and leaders of the zone and Cross River State that made the sacrifice to attend the engagement; adding: “President Tinubu is appreciative of all your efforts so far and he needs more”.
Speaking, Maj.-Gen. John Nwoga (retired) said that the insecurity in the zone was heightened by activities of social media bloggers, who keep on repeating old videos of gruesome criminal activities to create fear and panic for reasons best know to them.
“There is a need for our people to collectively deal with negative press, fake news and misleading videos being circulated within the zone through social media,” Nwoga said.
In his remark, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Hassan Dada, said that the Nigerian Army was putting in place robust strategy to ensure a safe and seamless yuletide.
“Through the Joint Security Task-Force in South-East, code-named ‘Operation UDO KA’, we are going to create a safe and secured environment to enable the usual mass return for Christmas once more this year; even as we have improved security generally,” Dada said.
Apart from head of security agencies in South-East and Cross River State; traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth leaders, women organisations, retired police and military personnel as well as civil society organisations attended the security engagement.
