President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Usman Alkali-Baba, to wield his powers in order to arrest the lingering insecurity in the country.
The Nation reports that the Minister of Police Affairs, Maigari Dingyadi, disclosed the President’s directive to the IGP on Friday, following his confirmation by the Police Council as a substantive Inspector-General of Police during Police Council’s meeting in Abuja.
Mr Dingyadi said: “Mr President used the opportunity to congratulate him on his appointment and called on him to ensure that he is worthy of the confidence reposed in him.
“He tasked him to rise to the challenge and ensure that the insecurity that the country is facing is brought to the barest minimum.
“The IG assured Mr President and Nigerians that he is going to work assiduously to ensure that the responsibilities assigned to him are brought to bear and executed to the best of his abilities and to the satisfaction of all Nigerians.”
Also speaking at the briefing, IGP Baba said he briefed the Council on the various and peculiar security crisis facing the geopolitical zones.
“There are peculiarities, like I said before, in the Southeast and South-South is the issue of secessionist agenda, championed by IPOB, I also talked about terrorism and religious bigotry in the North East.
“I also talked about the issue of kidnapping, armed robbery, Banditry and cultism as it affects the North Central and North West and South West. I gave a synopsis in terms of what we are doing to address this situation.
“I also thanked Mr President for providing additional logistics in terms of carrying out our duties and responsibilities.
“In collaboration with other security agencies, we try to checkmate other forms of lawlessness, criminality and unlawful agitation in order to ensure lives and property are saved and at the same time allow Nigerian citizens go about their lawful business.
“What is seriously worrisome in the Southeast, but it is gradually being checked and results are positive as regards the attacks and killings of security agents and assets belonging to the federal government.
“Our ability to checkmate this lawlessness has improved and we are getting closer to something positive.”
