President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday met with
the heads of the country’s security establishments over the growing
threats to national security by a radical Islamist sect, Boko Haram.
The meeting, which held behind closed doors was said to have reviewed “the developments surrounding Thursday’s bomb blast at the Nigeria Police Force headquarters in Abuja.”
Before the meeting, there was apprehension in the Force headqurters over the job of Inspector-General of Police, Hafiz Ringim.
This was sequel to rumours that Jonathan might sack the IG and some other police chiefs over the lapse(s) that led to the blast.
Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the incident that led to the death of eight people and destruction of 73 vehicles in the police headquarters’ car park.
A source in the Presidential Villa, who asked not be named, told one our correspondents, that the meeting between THE President and the security chiefs also considered ways of addressing the activities of the Islamist group.
He said, “The meeting deliberated extensively on whether the incident (Force headqurters bombing) was actually a case of suicide bombing, an accidental detonation of the explosive by the carrier, or a deliberate detonation by somebody else who was within the police headquarters at the time of the incident.”
Options being canvassed by the government in addressing problem include a “carrots and sticks” approach that involves dialogue with a promise of amnesty to Boko Haram members or heightened security surveillance and armed confrontation.
The security chiefs at meeting were Ringim, the National Security Adviser, Gen. Andrew Azazi (retd.); the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin; the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.- Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika; and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice-Marshal Mohammed Umar.
Others were the Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Sa’ad Ibrahim; the Director-General State Security Service, Ita Ekpenyong; the Nigerian Intelligence Agency counterpart, Olaniyi Oladeji; and the Commissioner of Police, Borno State Command, M. D Abubakar.
Before Jonathan’s meeting with the security chiefs, there were rumours in Abuja that the IG and some police chiefs might be sacked over the activities of Boko Haram.
There were two conflicting claims on why Ringim was in Presidential Villa ahead of most of those that attended the meeting with the President.
While one had it that he was summoned over the Force headquarters bombing, the other claimed that he was only there for the security chiefs meeting with Jonathan.
The IG’s absence at the Police headqurters led to the postponement of the conference of senior officers till Tuesday evening.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Mr Olusola Amore, had told the officers and journalists, who came for the meeting at about 11.16 am that the IG had gone for “a crucial meeting.’’
Amore later appealed to the journalists to excuse the gathering for the senior officers to discuss some issues.
Findings revealed that Azazi later met with the Federal Bureau of Investigation team probing the blast. He was said to have been briefed by the US team on the progress so far made.
Jonathan also held discussions with some state governors, especially those from the South- South.
The governors included the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, Timipreye Sylva (Bayelsa); Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta) and Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara).
Details of what transpired at the closed door consultations were not disclosed, but it was gathered that matters to be considered by the governors at their meeting today were raised.
It was also learnt that issues relating to the appointment of new ministers were part of the agenda of the consultations.
The nomination of the would-be ministers had been a source of crises in some states.
In separate interviews with journalists after the meeting, Amaechi and Ahmed condemned the activities of Boko Haram, particularly, the bomb blast at the Force headquarters.
Amaechi said, “The people of Rivers State condemn the bomb blast; it is disastrous and I think we should do something to ensure that it does not repeat itself.
“It is becoming a little bit worrisome that our brothers who call themselves members of Boko Haram can go to the extent of making us lose innocent lives. We condemn it in its totality.”
Shedding light on how officers of the police force in Rivers State recently rescued some kidnapped members of the National Youth Service Corps, Amaechi said, “There is nothing special about the police in Rivers State, it is just that we have been blessed that those who work in our state could become part of us and will readily want to defend their ‘brothers and sisters.’
“I am not saying the police here (Abuja) are not committed, but there could be security slip not because it was intentional but because they have looked at it that those coming to the police Headquarters are innocent Nigerians, who have one business or the other to transact and it has nothing to do with the capacity or competence of the NPF.”
On his part, Ahmed advised that relevant authorities should first address the issues that make Nigerians a willing tool of terrorist groups.
After all the governors left the Villa, THE PUNCH gathered that a meeting of the National Economic Council, scheduled for Wednesday(today), might not take place.
The NEC comprises the 36 state governors and relevant Federal Government officials, including some ministers and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
By Ihuoma Chiedozie and Adelani Adepegba Courtesy Of: Punch
The meeting, which held behind closed doors was said to have reviewed “the developments surrounding Thursday’s bomb blast at the Nigeria Police Force headquarters in Abuja.”
Before the meeting, there was apprehension in the Force headqurters over the job of Inspector-General of Police, Hafiz Ringim.
This was sequel to rumours that Jonathan might sack the IG and some other police chiefs over the lapse(s) that led to the blast.
Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the incident that led to the death of eight people and destruction of 73 vehicles in the police headquarters’ car park.
A source in the Presidential Villa, who asked not be named, told one our correspondents, that the meeting between THE President and the security chiefs also considered ways of addressing the activities of the Islamist group.
He said, “The meeting deliberated extensively on whether the incident (Force headqurters bombing) was actually a case of suicide bombing, an accidental detonation of the explosive by the carrier, or a deliberate detonation by somebody else who was within the police headquarters at the time of the incident.”
Options being canvassed by the government in addressing problem include a “carrots and sticks” approach that involves dialogue with a promise of amnesty to Boko Haram members or heightened security surveillance and armed confrontation.
The security chiefs at meeting were Ringim, the National Security Adviser, Gen. Andrew Azazi (retd.); the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin; the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.- Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika; and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice-Marshal Mohammed Umar.
Others were the Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Sa’ad Ibrahim; the Director-General State Security Service, Ita Ekpenyong; the Nigerian Intelligence Agency counterpart, Olaniyi Oladeji; and the Commissioner of Police, Borno State Command, M. D Abubakar.
Before Jonathan’s meeting with the security chiefs, there were rumours in Abuja that the IG and some police chiefs might be sacked over the activities of Boko Haram.
There were two conflicting claims on why Ringim was in Presidential Villa ahead of most of those that attended the meeting with the President.
While one had it that he was summoned over the Force headquarters bombing, the other claimed that he was only there for the security chiefs meeting with Jonathan.
The IG’s absence at the Police headqurters led to the postponement of the conference of senior officers till Tuesday evening.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Mr Olusola Amore, had told the officers and journalists, who came for the meeting at about 11.16 am that the IG had gone for “a crucial meeting.’’
Amore later appealed to the journalists to excuse the gathering for the senior officers to discuss some issues.
Findings revealed that Azazi later met with the Federal Bureau of Investigation team probing the blast. He was said to have been briefed by the US team on the progress so far made.
Jonathan also held discussions with some state governors, especially those from the South- South.
The governors included the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, Timipreye Sylva (Bayelsa); Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta) and Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara).
Details of what transpired at the closed door consultations were not disclosed, but it was gathered that matters to be considered by the governors at their meeting today were raised.
It was also learnt that issues relating to the appointment of new ministers were part of the agenda of the consultations.
The nomination of the would-be ministers had been a source of crises in some states.
In separate interviews with journalists after the meeting, Amaechi and Ahmed condemned the activities of Boko Haram, particularly, the bomb blast at the Force headquarters.
Amaechi said, “The people of Rivers State condemn the bomb blast; it is disastrous and I think we should do something to ensure that it does not repeat itself.
“It is becoming a little bit worrisome that our brothers who call themselves members of Boko Haram can go to the extent of making us lose innocent lives. We condemn it in its totality.”
Shedding light on how officers of the police force in Rivers State recently rescued some kidnapped members of the National Youth Service Corps, Amaechi said, “There is nothing special about the police in Rivers State, it is just that we have been blessed that those who work in our state could become part of us and will readily want to defend their ‘brothers and sisters.’
“I am not saying the police here (Abuja) are not committed, but there could be security slip not because it was intentional but because they have looked at it that those coming to the police Headquarters are innocent Nigerians, who have one business or the other to transact and it has nothing to do with the capacity or competence of the NPF.”
On his part, Ahmed advised that relevant authorities should first address the issues that make Nigerians a willing tool of terrorist groups.
After all the governors left the Villa, THE PUNCH gathered that a meeting of the National Economic Council, scheduled for Wednesday(today), might not take place.
The NEC comprises the 36 state governors and relevant Federal Government officials, including some ministers and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
By Ihuoma Chiedozie and Adelani Adepegba Courtesy Of: Punch
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