Insecurity: Jonathan summons govs, service chiefs, others

President Goodluck Jonathan has summoned all the state governors as well as members of the National Security Council over the security challenges in the country. Presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati, in a statement today, said Jonathan summoned them to a meeting to be held tomorrow at the Presidential Villa against the background of recent events and […]

President Goodluck Jonathan has summoned all the state governors as well as members of the National Security Council over the security challenges in the country.

Presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati, in a statement today, said Jonathan summoned them to a meeting to be held tomorrow at the Presidential Villa against the background of recent events and developments in the country.

 Abati said the meeting with members of the National Security Council, which would be presided over by the president, is scheduled for 11.00am.

He listed those expected there as including Vice President Namadi Sambo, Defence Minister Lt.-Gen Aliyu Gusau, National Security Adviser Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.), the Chief of Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, the service chiefs, Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Abubakar as well as the Directors-General of the State Security Services and the National Intelligence Agency.

He said the meeting of the National Security Council would be followed at 1.00pm by an enlarged meeting on security developments in the country to which Jonathan has invited state governors.

He said the president, members of the National Security Council and the state governors would review the security situation in the country as well as ongoing national security measures and operations with a view to determining the best way forward.

He said Jonathan reassured all Nigerians and persons living in the country that the Federal Government remained very mindful of its responsibility for the safety of their lives and properties in all parts of Nigeria and would continue to do everything possible to protect them from the scourge of terrorism and insecurity.

According to him, the president is particularly concerned about the plight of the young senior secondary school girls who were reportedly abducted from their school in Borno State on Monday night and has ordered the military and national security agencies to deploy maximum efforts towards rescuing all of the girls and returning them safely to their parents.

He added that the president welcomed reports that the military and security agencies had already rescued some of the girls.

“President Jonathan deeply regrets the pain, sorrow and anguish brought upon many Nigerian families in recent days as a consequence of recurring security challenges which the nation is contending with. The president remains convinced that with the patriotic commitment and support of all Nigerians, the country will ultimately overcome its present challenges and move forward in unity and strength”, he said.

Abati said Jonathan would be pleased to see all politicians in the country exhibiting greater responsibility and patriotism by doing more to support his administration’s sincere efforts to enhance national security rather than try to build “political capital out of the pain and misery of their compatriots”.