Nyako, kidnapped girls dominate Security Council meeting

The enlarged National Security Council meeting has unanimously condemned the memo written by the Adamawa State Governor, Murtala Nyako.

The meeting also harped on the need for cooperation between all tiers of government in fighting the security challenges in the country, rather than abandoning all the work to the Federal Government.

It further resolved that no stone would be left unturned in the search for  the 230 female pupils kidnapped by Boko Haram insurgents from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, recently.

Meanwhile, concerned Nigerians were expecting that government would  announce a renewed plan on how to confront the Boko Haram insurgency, since the current approach appears not to be effective.

The enlarged security council meeting had been called at the instance of President Goodluck Jonathan, following the deteriorating security situation in three states, Borno, Yobe and Adamawa which have been under the onslaught of Boko Haram insurgents  for years.

The meeting which started at noon ended at about 6:30pm.

Murtala Nyako,Adamawa state governor had written a memo accusing the President of using terrorism to cause genocide in the North.

Briefing journalists after the meeting, Theodore Orji, the Abia state governor, who briefed alongside Ekiti state governor, Kayode Fayemi, Niger State’s Babangida Aliyu, Borno’s Kashim Shettima, Minister of Defence, Aliyu Gusau and the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Rueben Abati ,said government officials were cautioned against inciting the citizenry with their statements.

“The memo that was written by one of our colleagues, that is Gov Nyako of Adamawa state was discussed and there was a very unanimous condemnation of that memo. All officers and people in positions of authority were advised to be cautious of what they say.

“That what they say should be at least what will enliven every person and make us to know that this country belongs to all of us and not something that will demoralise us, not something that will incite people to go the negative way” he said.

Orji further said the meeting recognised the fact that   the issue of security is not for the federal government alone but” should be a corporate issue, handled corporately by the Federal Government, state and local governments. When there is a synergy, obviously progress will be made.

“The meeting also agreed that at the state level, governors who are chief security officers have to do a lot to help because that is where the security issue is. In so doing, the state governors should mobilise their radio houses in order to sensitise the people in the states, so that they will be aware of this security situation”.

He added that the meeting agreed that the scourge of Boko Haram that is on now, “is not a religious war, people should not misrepresent it to be, because both Muslims and Christians are being killed. It doesn’t discriminate against any person”.

Aliyu told journalists that Nyako’s memo was deliberated upon and the meeting agreed that there is “need to be careful before making statements, because terrorists want to know that they are making impact.There is no need to be giving the terrorists the impression that they are succeeding” .

Fayemi also told journalists that the meeting harped on the need for information sharing between security agencies.

“Data should be shared across the board amongst security agencies. Holistic approach in curbing terrorist activities including the anti poverty approaches”.

He added that the meeting also dwelt on Chibok  and that the security agencies agreed that they would do everything possible to ensure that the abducted children are rescued from heir abductors, which the military assured.

He added that the meeting stressed the importance of ensuring capacity building of media organisations so that security sensitivities of those issues are addressed.

The Defense Minister who was also at the briefing, said the meeting discussed the overall security of the country, the operation in the North East, kidnapping and criminal activities that warrant government attention.

He also emphasised that “Security is everybody’s responsibility. Everyone being security conscious” adding that the meeting also harped on the need for massive public security awareness.