INEC should reassess freed areas – Security chiefs

This was announced by Chief of Army Staff Lt. General Kenneth Minimah after a meeting of the National Security Council presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan.The meeting, which held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, was also attended by the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Professor Attahiru Jega.Minima said: “You know Yobe and […]

This was announced by Chief of Army Staff Lt. General Kenneth Minimah after a meeting of the National Security Council presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan.
The meeting, which held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, was also attended by the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Professor Attahiru Jega.
Minima said: “You know Yobe and Adamawa States have been liberated completely and we look forward to the reinstatement of structures of government and governance.
 “I’m also sure you know that in Borno State, out of the 27 local government areas, we have three local governments remaining: Abadam, Kalabalge and Gwoza. And we are optimistic that with time, we will liberate those local governments.”
On whether the council discussed the forthcoming elections, Minimah said only the INEC was competent to talk about the elections, adding that the commission had to reassess and evaluate the situation in the three troubled states.
“But I can also tell you that not all structures of governance have been reinstated and they will need to be reinstated so that citizens can go back to their areas, and it is then I think they can execute their rights as voters.”
Asked how soon those structures would be reinstated, the Chief of Army Staff said: “I don’t know”.
On whether the counter-terrorism operations will end before the Presidential election on March 28, Minimah said: “It is our wish and we pray God gives that to us, but war is war. War, sometimes, is not fought on some platforms of permutations”.
 On the fate of 219 Chibok school girls abducted nearly a year ago, Minimah said there was no news for now.
He said: “No news for now. In all the liberated areas we have, we have also made enquiries, but the truth is when the terrorists are running away, they also run with their families, and those we have come in contact with have not made any comments suggesting that Chibok girls were there and taken away.
“But we are optimistic that as it becomes closer, the territory is becoming elusive to them. We will get further details on that”.
The INEC chairman, who left before the meeting ended, told State House journalists that the meeting went well.
He said: “I believe it (the meeting) went well,” but declined comments on his commission’s plan to use card readers during the elections.