President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians that he will do whatever it takes to ensure the repeat of ENDSARS protests does not occur in Nigeria again, Minister of Police Affairs, Muhammad Dingyadi has disclosed.
After a meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) in Abuja, Dingyadi told journalists that the President reassured that all stakeholders will be involved in the Process of maintaining peace in the country, particularly the youth, community leaders, traditional rulers, politicians, public servants, religious leaders etc
When asked what did the President meant when he said he would not allow a repeat of #EndSARS protest, the minister said: “On the issue of ENDSARS that you have raised, what we are saying is that government will continue to dialogue, it will continue to listen and will continue to carry all stakeholders along in ensuring that there is no repeat of what happened that destroyed a lot of properties, public and private, individuals in this country.
“On decisive action, (it means) it’s an all inclusive action that is going to be taken to ensure that in terms of technology, equipment we can face these challenges head on.”
Below are other comments by the minister and answers he gave to questions:
“The National Security Council (NSC) was convened to brief Nr. President about security situation in the country.
“The meeting noted with concern the increasing cases of armed banditry particularly in the north west and north eastern part of the country.
“The meeting agreed to be more proactive in dealing with the situation in a more decisive manner.
“The meeting noted the need to pay greater attention to the police in the discharge of its functions to maintain peace in the country, in the areas of equipment and moderne technology.
“The meeting thanked the President for the concern which he has shown in repositioning the police to perform more effectively.
“In his concluding remarks, Mr. President thanked members for the efforts they are making in to maintain peace and assured members that he will do whatever it takes to support security agencies in providing peace in the country.
“The Federal Government will continue to maintain its bureaucratic, humane and just postures in handling security matters in the country.
Q: How soon should Nigerians expect the difference in improved security in these areas?
A: Let me say that in whatever one does you must have a timeline, you must have your targets and you must work towards achieving those targets. We have our timelines, we have our targets and we are working towards achieving those targets.
Q: Audu Bugatti said in an interview that if care is not taken bandits and other criminals will become too powerful to be rein in. He wants to no specific things the government is doing to change the current situation?
A: You see, these bandits have already being degraded, so there is no way they resuscitate themselves and take over. I think they have already been degraded, what they are doing is just hit and run kind of tactics. So, we don’t see any sign of them coming to takeover or overpower, I think they have been well degraded and they are just trying to show their presence in a very cowardice manner.
Q: On the concerns that police have abandoned Abuja-Kaduna and plans to ensure peace return to the route:
A: You see, once a small thing happens in a particular place like this Kaduna, we being to talk about lack of security in that area. That place is being monitored 24 hours. There are police and the army who are on a kind of joint patrol on 24 hours basis. We also have our own separate police formation that is also on that road. I think it is an over statement to say that that place is not being secured. People are still following it, we agree that there have been cases of attacks but these are normal things these people do whenever they have opportunity and we are equal to the task. Whenever this kind of thing happens, we pursue them like what happened just two days ago, those people were rescued. So police and security personnel will continue to monitor this road and all other places to ensure that peace is to a very large extent maintained in the area.
Q: Are the police really back on the streets, their morale diffidently boosted to tackle the boldness of kidnappers going to people homes
A: Even this morning at this meeting, I informed council that the police are very much on their duty posts unlike what people are saying. We receive daily situation reports from across the states and that is a good indicator that the police are very much on their duty posts, they are also on the road and they are working 24 hours. But I will agree with you when you say that police are not everywhere. We cannot be everywhere because of our number, equipment but we are doing all we can to ensure that we cover as much as we can and to protect as many lives as we can to ensure that there is peace in this country.
Q: The thoughts out there is that the monies from ransom are being used to fund Boko Haram. What is the actual thing being done differently to ensure this is stopped?
A: You see, we always encourage people to report these cases to the police because, the moment you take it upon yourself and continue to pay ransom this will continue to occur. But if you report to the police, they will continue to pursue these people and in most cases we succeed in freeing these victims.