FG to govs: Stop registration, deportation of non-indignes

•We’ll rescue Chibok girls at appropriate time •War against B/Haram is like football game The Federal Government has directed governors whose states are registering and deporting ‘non-indigenes’ to stop it, saying it is more dangerous than the Boko Haram insurgency. The government gave the directive today after the National Security Council meeting chaired by President […]

•We’ll rescue Chibok girls at appropriate time

•War against B/Haram is like football game

The Federal Government has directed governors whose states are registering and deporting ‘non-indigenes’ to stop it, saying it is more dangerous than the Boko Haram insurgency.

The government gave the directive today after the National Security Council meeting chaired by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The council particularly expressed fears that the registration and deportation of Nigerians in states could disintegrate the country.

The closed door meeting, which was held inside the president’s office, was attended by all the security chiefs.

Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Abubakar simply told State House journalists after the meeting that the insurgency, the abduction of Chibok schoolgirls as well as the registration and deportation of Nigerians in states of the federation were discussed.

But the Director-General of the Department of State Security (DSS), Ita Ekpeyong, said the meeting condemned the registration and deportation of non-indigenes in states and directed that it be stopped forthwith.

He said the council discussed people’s reactions to this incident in Kano and other states and observed that the threat it posed more potent than the Boko Haram insurgency and could disintegrate the country.

He said Jonathan asked the IGP to address journalists after the meeting in order to re-emphasis the importance he (the president) attached to the need to stop the registration and deportation of Nigerians in states.

“The IG has told you what was discussed at the meeting, the fight against Boko Haram, the efforts made by government to rescue the Chibok girls and the issue of deportation and registration of Nigerians in states of the federation. We regard this as even more potent than Boko Haram.

“The council discussed in details, the issue of registration of Nigerians in any part of the country, being subjected to registration, being subjected to deportation, being taken away from one part of the country to the other. 

“The council discussed the reaction by some groups in Kano State and other parts of the country. The council observed that this threat was more potent than Boko Haram and could disintegrate the country. And we take this very seriously, for people to deport people, for people to ‎take people from one place to the other, for registration of indigenes no matter where they are. No matter where they are, they are free to settle anywhere they like. 

“The council resolved that the issue of registration of Nigerians anywhere in the country and deportation should stop forthwith. To re-emphasis the importance the president has attached to this, that is why he asked the IG and me to address the press. This must stop forthwith”, he said.

Ekpeyong said the council also resolved that security operatives involved in the registration and deportation of anyone as well as youth groups causing trouble over the issue be severely dealt with in order to prevent the situation from getting out of control.

“Security operatives ‎should not be involved in anybody trying to register people and anybody trying to deport people. Security operatives must henceforth not be involved. If a police officer or an SSS operative is found to be involved, he/she will be severely dealt it.

“Also, youth groups trying to ferment trouble because of this issue are hereby warned to desist from it because government is taking serious notice of it. Government is doing everything possible to stem this from getting out of control. As a matter of fact, to show the urgency, the Council of State meeting will be held anytime next week to discuss these issues.

On the continued stay of Chibok schoolgirls in captivity, the DSS boss reiterated that the security agencies knew their (the girls’) location, but did not want to endanger their lives.

He assured that efforts towards rescuing the captives were ongoing, stressing, however, that the security forces wanted to take it “gradually” and secure their release at the appropriate time.

“On the issue of Chibok girls, government is making efforts. We know where they are, but we don’t want to endanger their lives. That is the truth. We want to take it ‎gradually and release them at the appropriate time. We know where they are. You can go to bed with that”, Ekpeyong said. 

He said the government and the security agencies viewed the fight against the Boko Haram insurgency as a football game where only the winning goal is remembered.

“The fight against Boko Haram is ongoing. We kept saying that the fight against Boko Haram is like a football (match). You know when the Germans played Argentina, it was only that one goal they scored that everyone is remembering, the other goals that were stopped, nobody will remember. There are several things the government is doing, there are several attacks the government has stopped, but nobody will remember those ones because we don’t tell you. But several things are going on”, he said.