Guardian: Security Council, Borno, Plateau, Bauchi govs meet over violence

Started by NewsCaster, Feb 02, 2011, 12:00 PM

NewsCaster

THE meeting of the National Security Council continued for a second day at the Presidential Villa Abuja with Vice President Namadi Sambo.

The Council also met   the Governors of the three States prone to violence – Borno (Ali Modu Sherrif), Plateau (Jonah Jang) and Bauchi (Isa Yuguda).

Meanwhile, Governor Ali Modu Sheriff has said that   assassination of the Borno State All Nigeria People's Party (ANNP)  governorship candidate Alhaji Modu Fannami Gubio, along with six  others was politically motivated and not carried out by the Boko Haram sect members as being insinuated in some quarters.

Also, in yet another sad incident, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Gadzama Joseph  was yesterday killed in Abaganaram ward of Maiduguri metropolis, at about 12.25am. The  daughter of the deceased who was with him  also sustained  injuries.

Among those at the meeting held at the Vice President's conference include, National Security Adviser, Gen Owoye Azazi, Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin, Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Azubuike Ihejirika, Director General of State Security Services, Ita Ekpeyong.

Others were the , Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Ringim, Director General National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Ambassador E. Oladeji, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Hajia Salamatu Suleiman and representatives of Chiefs of Naval and Air Staff.

A source told The Guardian that "Yes, the National Security Council, in continuation of its yesterday's (Monday) meeting on security matters across the country invited the governors of Borno, Bauchi and Plateau States. They critically examined the security lapses in those States with a view to finding  a lasting solution to the incursions and recurring sporadic attacks on the lives and properties of innocent citizens. The government is determined to ensure that it intervenes in the spate of killings prevalent in parts of the country and urgently address them."

Sheriff spoke on to journalists on Monday at the Maiduguri Government House, adding : "I strongly believe that what happened last Friday in Maiduguri was not carried out by the Boko Haram sect members.

"If it is all about Boko Haram as we earlier thought, then why are  the targets politicians only are? First, it was our late party chairman and deputy zonal chairman, Awagana Ali Ngala, who incidentally was my cousin, and then last Friday they attacked our gubernatorial candidate and my younger brother alongside five others. We all know the pattern of the Boko-Haram sect operations ,they usually rush out shoot in the air and run into hiding; but all those that died on Friday were shot right in the head, and only specially trained persons can do that."

He said after meeting the Vice President, Namadi Sambo and the Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Ringim, they pledged their support for me in the protection of lives and property in the state.

The governor added that, he was not in any way surprised by the recent campaign of calumny that was launched in the media where some elements were suggesting that a state of emergency be imposed in Borno State.

"We know where they are coming from; they are behind these killings and  as soon as they have achieved what they planned on Friday, they rushed to the media calling for a state of emergency; this alone is a clear testimony that people are desperate and they want to get power at all cost – but we will not allow this to happen again, we will surely get them in no time", said Sheriff.

The Borno State Police commissioner, Mohammed Abubakar confirmed the incident saying , "Yes, we just received reports of the gunning down of DSP Gadzama by suspected Boko Haram armed men on motorcycle today (yesterday) at about 12.25am."

He stated that the police officer was returning from a condolence visit when he was shot and killed, leaving his daughter in a pool of blood.

The daughter of the slain police officer, according to Abubakar, has been taken to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) for treatment sustained on her shoulders and thigh.

The killing of DSP Gadzama brings to 12 the number of policemen and three soldiers killed since the dreaded  Muslim sects' attacks began in July, 2010.

In a related development ,Azazi yesterday said Nigeria is redesigning the  national security strategy to focus on the guarantee of public safety and national stability. He said that Nigerians must imbibe the reality that security is the business of everybody, not just officials of government.

Azazi, who spoke at a seminar at the National Defence College Abuja under the theme: The Concept of National Security Strategy  and the Changing Security Environment, also said that the imposition of state of emergency in the violence-prone States of Borno, Bauchi and Plateau States would not guarantee the needed security, rather, "it will further aggravate the state of insecurity by removing the governor."

Azazi, who said that insecurity threats of the future would crystallise into armed violence, insurgency, irregular and guerrilla warfare, however said these threats were  not new but now, "everybody is everywhere. We have the CNN effect. Things happening in one locality are communicated immediately."

For example, he said, despite the clampdown on internet and wireless communication in Egypt, "people still communicate and mobilise."




Source: Security Council, Borno, Plateau, Bauchi govs meet over violence