We Hope To Curb Insecurity This year, Badaru

By Mohammed Abubakar Dutse

Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru Abubakar has reiterated the determination of the federal government to ensure the eradication of all forms of insurgency in the country before the end of the year.

The minister, while interacting with reporters at the the third government-citizen engagement organized by Jigawa state government in Birnin Kudu local government area area on Sunday, however, lauded the military for their efforts in fighting the terrorists.

The forum, is part of the ongoing interaction with the electorate in the 27 LGAs to get their inputs on the execution of developmental programnes of his administration since inception.

Badaru, the immediate past governor of the state, who was one of the guests at forum acknowledged that security of lives had improved in recent times as the result of the doggedness of the members of the armed forces in tackling the insurgency.

According to him, “Going by the public comments, from opinion leaders, civil society organizations, (CSOs) and to the residents of the areas affected by terrorism and banditry, everybody is saying banditry and terrorism had improved.

“Even with this positive turn of events, we’ll continue to on our current achievements and we’re doing our best to give our armed forces all the needed logistics support they require to contain the insurgency this year.”

Commenting on sour diplomatic relationship between Nigeria and it’s Niger Republic, the Defence boss downplayed the development saying both Nigeria and Niger were like brothers.

He said, “We’ve said it a number of times that we’re brothers and so we can’t do anything, matter how small that will hurt Niger Republic. Because we believe that Nigeria and Niger are one and the same, so anybody that is plotting to incite Nigeria and Niger will not succeed.”

The minister admonished Nigerians to continue to provide the security agencies with the necessary and credible that could lead to routing of insurgents and their collaborators.

His words, “We need the public to support the security agencies by providing us with credible information on how to fight insecurity and give us real information on the identities and the whereabouts of the bandits, terrorists and those supporting them and they should desist from their activities.”