Contrary to the popular views that kidnapping is on the increase, the Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Ibom Ekwe-Ibas said that the security situation in the country is improving.
He noted that overall, the number of kidnapping has dropped. This he adduced to the recent setting up of operation “Puff Adder” following President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive to the Inspector General of Police.
Buhari also issued fresh directives to the security chiefs on Thursday directing them to end the security challenges bedevilling the country.
The president met on Thursday with the service chiefs and other heads of security agencies to review the security situation and address the various concerns.
This is the second time within the week that the president will be meeting with the security heads.
Buhari had on Tuesday received briefing from the security chiefs at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The Naval Chief spoke Thursday after about four hours meeting with the president.
Briefing State House Correspondent at the end of the meeting, Ekwe -Ibok said the president ordered them to ensure that Nigerians go to bed with their eyes closed, feeling confident that their security is guaranteed.
Ibas on the purpose of the meeting said: “It was just basically to appraise Mr. President of the security situation generally after his short vacation abroad. The security agencies briefed him on what has been happening with particular emphasis on the proliferation of small arms and what the various agencies are doing to curtail the consequences of this proliferation.
“He has also given directives that the agencies should do much more to ensure that Nigerians go to bed and wake up feeling healthy and confident that their security is guaranteed.”
On kidnapping, the Naval Chief said: “You will recall during the last meeting, the IG was directed to ensure insecurity is addressed and consequently various operations were set up; Puff Adder was one of the strategies. With the set up of that operations, there has been a remarkable drop in the number of kidnappings. What normally would attract attention is when a key person in government perhaps is kidnapped. On the whole, the number of kidnappings has dropped and generally I think the security situation is improving.”
Speaking on the kidnapped District Head of Daura, Alhaji Musa Umar, Ibas revealed that two suspects have been arrested.
He said: “ Serious efforts are being made, key suspects have been arrested and it is hoped that in a short while, those behind the heinous crime will be brought to book.”
Umar, was kidnapped by four unidentified gunmen at his residence shortly after he returned from the mosque where he took part in the evening prayer when the incident happened.
Umar, who is reportedly the father-in-law of the ADC to President Buhari, was sitting in front of his house with some people when the gun-toting men came.
Those in attendance were the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin, Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai; and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Abubakar Sadique.
Others are, acting Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno; Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan- Ali, Minister of Interior, General Abdulrahaman Dambazau ,Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Abubakar, and the Director General of Department for State Service (DSS), Yusuf Magaji Bichi.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, and Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazzau were also part of the meeting.
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