The Federal Government on Thursday said it has strengthened security on Nigeria’s borders with Chad to prevent influx of illicit weapons from rebels.
The Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi, a retired Major General, while speaking at the Special Weekly Briefing coordinated by the Presidential Communication Team at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, raised concerns that the death of former Chadian President Idriss Deby has exposed Nigeria to dangers of uncontrolled influx of criminals from Libya and Chad.
He said there was need to strengthen security around the borders, particularly with the Republic of Chad, following the ongoing unrest in the country which could escalate insecurity in the country.
Magashi said the move is to prevent a situation where bandits will infiltrate the borders as well as control the influx of refugees into the country.
“If there’s no security in Chad there will be a lot of trouble for all neighbouring countries. But thankfully, we have a lot of ongoing military cooperation, through the Multinational Joint Task Force (MJTF), which we expect to continue. We remain mindful of our borders and developments in Chad,”Magashi said.
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“When we heard of this unfortunate killing of the Chadian President, we knew that problem is bound to be replicated among neighbouring countries and Nigeria will be most hit by his absence. If there is insecurity in Chad, there will be a lot of problems. But thank God, we have a lot of military activities with Chad, Niger, Cameroon, we have all that military concern. So, in the name of that Multinational Joint Task Force (MJTF), all these countries, including Chad, are contributing countries for the operation,” he said.
The Federal Government also expressed hopes that the African country, which is currently embroiled in political crisis, will overcome its challenges.
“The problem is now going to be aggravated because we are not sure the direction in which that country is going to face. But I assure you that we are mindful of our borders, we are mindful of the development, and politically, the government is putting its head together to see how best they can restore the peace in that country.
“So security wise, we’re beefing up all borders to ensure that refugees did not flow into our country. Even Nigerians there, I’m sure some of them would like to come back. We have to make ready. Let’s prepare for them and not allow them to come in and use others to come because of the problems that they will create,” he said.
Nigeria has continued to bear the heavy burden of crises of her neighbours with weapons and fleeing rebels finding safe havens in the country.
“We are also afraid that, before now, Chad has been the one stopping most of this infiltration of weapons and the rest of it. Now, it is going to be free for all right from Libya down to Nigeria.
“It’s very easy now, because of the absence of the influence of Chad on that route. So we also have to take care of that.
“All we are praying is that African countries will find a solution to the problem of Chad and get in a more corrective society as respected by international organisations,” he said.
Magashi, while also speaking on internal stability, described the current attacks on police formation in the southeast as an affront on Nigeria’s security architecture and warned that such would no longer be tolerated.
He also insisted that killers of 12 soldiers in Benue State will be brought to book.
“Whoever touches the military has no regard for this country,” he said.
