Terror Alert: Buhari Holds Emergency Meeting With Top Security Chiefs

Amidst the security challenges across the country President Muhammadu Buhari has summoned an emergency security meeting with security chiefs in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

Top on the agenda of the high-level meeting, the second in less than a month, the magazine learned, will be the government’s readiness to respond to the recent security threat to the nation’s capital, Abuja, by terrorists.

Those expected at the meeting include the Chief of Defence Staff, the three service chiefs, Inspector-General of Police, Director-General of Department of State Service, Director of Military Intelligence, among other top military and security chiefs.

Others expected to attend the meeting include the Minister of Defense and the National Security Adviser, Major Gen. Babagana Mungonu (rtd).

The meeting is coming on the back of the kidnap of a former deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Adigun Agbaje along the Lagos Ibadan expressway at the weekend.

Similarly, five state governors in the south east also held a meeting in Enugu to draw attention to the heightened insecurity in the region.

Garba Shehu, Senior Secial Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity said on Sunday that the president has canceled all other events earlier scheduled for today in order to meet with his security top brass in the country as commander-in-chief.

’The President, who was initially scheduled to commission the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure new Technology and Innovation Complex, will receive briefs from the security chiefs, and interject on areas that need more attention,” Shehu said in a statement yesterday.

The United States had last week alerted the country on the plan by Boko haram and ISWAP to attack the Federal Capital Territory, FCT. The US had since evacuated its embassy staff in Abuja, apart from issuing an advisory for its citizens to leave the country, ahead of the planned terrorist attack.

But in response, the federal government has assured Nigerians in Abuja to go about their duties, and that it’s doing everything on its part to provide security.

The president’s meeting with top security chiefs in the country, the magazine learned, is one of the efforts being taken by the government to assure Nigerians that the country is safe.

Speaking on the steps being taken by security agencies to provide security in the nation’s capital, the FCT Police spokesperson, Josephine Adeh disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, Babaji Sunday has been meeting with residents and other stakeholders with a view to averting any terrorist attack.

She said this is being done in order to assure the residents and to encourage people to volunteer information in case they notice any strange activities around them, adding that the meeting is not meant to cause apprehension in the FCT.

According to Adeh, “this is a routine, and it was not borne out of the reported imminent terror attack alert making the rounds.

“Our duty is to secure the FCT, the people, and their properties, and we have been doing that even before now, and we’ve intensified our operation since the alert.

“The CP had met with hotel and high-rise building owners to ensure the installation of CCTV cameras on their premises for security reasons. He had met with estate owners not to allow hotels in the estates which are residential areas. We also relate with public transportation workers’ unions to ensure they know their drivers and workers. He has met with garden owners too, all to ensure security and safety.”

Speaking on the US alert last week, the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed assured Nigerians that the federal government will provide security and safety across the country.

“I can assure all that our military and other security agencies have continued to do everything possible to secure and protect Nigerians and foreigners living in Nigeria.

“Terrorists have been hard hit and put on the run. Bandits have been decimated and scattered. Our country is safer today than at any time in recent times, thanks to the sacrifice of our men and women in uniform,” Mohammed said.