Presidency highlights measures to tackle nation’s security challenges

The Presidency has listed measures and initiatives so far taken to address the spate of crime and criminality in the country, assuring that the perpetrators will be brought to book in no time.

Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Femi Adesina, who highlighted the initiatives in a statement in Abuja, said the President Muhammdu Buhari administration was committed to finding drastic solutions to security challenges in the country.

According to him, it is the constitutional duty and responsibility of government to safeguard lives and property of all citizens, adding: “These are no doubt times of great security challenges for our country and the Buhari-led government is not leaving any stones unturned to restore sanity and calm.

“The Buhari administration remains committed to this, and despite recent spikes in the spate of crime and criminality, the evildoers will be beaten, and badly, too. The ravening clouds can never be victorious. Soon, they shall no longer possess the sky.”

Adesina listed the security initiatives taken between January and now for the safety and security of Nigerians to include, Operation Puff Adder (Nigeria Police), Operation Harbin Kunama III and Exercise Egwu Eke 3 (Nigeria Army) to complement Operations Sharan Daji and Diran Mikiya of the Nigeria Air Force.

“All of these operations are focused on tackling banditry and criminality in the North West of Nigeria.

“Operation Harbin Kunama 3 was launched on April 1 to ensure the complete defeat of the bandits fleeing military operations in Zamfara State and escaping to Kaduna, Katsina, Kano, Niger and Sokoto states,” he stated.

The Presidency said hundreds of kidnappers and bandits have been arrested or killed since January with several camps and hideouts destroyed and hundreds of hostages rescued.

In a two-week operation from February 4 to February 14, 2019 the Nigeria Army had freed no fewer than 80 hostages, while 37 bandits have been killed.

The Presidency also explained that aerial bombardments of bandits’ camps have been intensified in recent months.

A new Air Force Base-the 271 Nigeria Air Force Detachment (271 NAF Det) – was commissioned at Birinin Gwari in Kaduna State in May 2019, to complement the 207 Quick Response Group (QRG) established in Gusau, Zamfara State, in 2017.

For the Nigeria Police, it said between January 2019 and the first week of May, 270 suspected kidnappers and 275 suspected armed robbers were arrested, among otter feats.