President Muhammadu Buhari has issued an express order for security agencies to immediately rescue all the people kidnapped by criminal groups across Nigeria.
The president gave the order while addressing security chiefs at a meeting in Abuja Thursday.
His position was disclosed by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd.), who briefed State House correspondents at the end of the meeting.
Monguno said: “The president spoke about his sadness in respect of recent security challenges and developments we have had in the country, in particular the incident in which several Nigerians lost their lives with many more taken into captivity by criminals and bandits.
“Not just those that were captured during the last Kaduna–bound train incident, but those that have been in captivity in other parts of the country.
“The president has directed all the operational and intelligence elements to rescue all of these innocent people immediately and unhurt. This is the basis on which other issues were discussed.
“The Chief of Defence Staff, the Service Chiefs and the Inspector General of Police all briefed the president on occurrences in their respective organisations.”
Monguno said he made some recommendations on how to tackle the security challenges confronting Nigeria, adding that Buhari is reviewing the recommendations.
In a related development, the NSA criticised Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufa’i over his recent comments which, he said, were compromising security in the state.
Monguno told the State House correspondents that El-Rufa’i was “talking too much”, adding that the governor could indirectly help terrorists restrategise and, in turn, endanger those in captivity.
He stated this while responding to a question on El-Rufa’i’s claim that the military failed to act despite intelligence reports made available to them early enough on the hideout of bandits and planned attacks.
Monguno said: “El-Rufa’i’s comments could compromise the security situation as the bandits can relocate to other destinations if they know that their current hideout is known.
“Governor Nasir El-Rufai spoke about the security agencies saying we know who they are, where they are. Again, that is dangerous.
“When you start talking too much, you give away a lot. Now, even if they say we know where they are, that in itself is already a problem, because once you say it, whether it is true or false, the person who has your people in captivity will move to another location.
“It’s just as simple as that. So, sometimes it is best to just keep silent, mum is the word.”
