We are trying our best to end terrorism, says Jonathan

by ‘Jola Sotubo

Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan is seen during a break at the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa

The ongoing scourge of terrorism which has plagued the Northern part of Nigeria will soon be over according to President Goodluck Jonathan.

The president has lauded the nation’s security agencies for their efforts to put an end to the scourge.

He also added that though it seems to average Nigerians that nothing is being done, a lot of sacrifices are being made daily by members of the the Army, the police and the State Security Service.

Punch reports:

Jonathan spoke while inaugurating the Nigeria Police Force International Peacekeeping Centre and the Force Museum at the police headquarters in Abuja.

He said as a man at the centre of all issues in the country, he was aware that security agents were trying their best to end the scourge of terrorism in the north eastern part of the country.

The President expressed the conviction that with their efforts and the support of God, Nigeria would soon overcome its security challenges.

He said, “Let me use this unique opportunity to appreciate the commitment and the services the security services have been rendering to this country in spite of the challenges we have.

“For the ordinary people, they may not know the commitment and the contributions of the Army, the police and the State Security Service and their sacrifices.

“But for me who is at the centre of everything, I know what they have been doing and I believe God being with us, we will overcome our challenges.”

He regretted that Nigerians were living in a changing time in which the nation was witnessing unprecedented violence, criminal acts and an escalation of terrorism.

While saying that terrorists’ acts and insurgencies were inimical to national progress, Jonathan regretted that Nigeria had unfortunately experienced the odious development.

He vowed that his administration was determined to confront the challenges and end hate and crime in the country.

The President said it was imperative that the Nigeria Police Force, as the lead agency in the maintenance of internal security, must play an active role in combating terror and providing security for the people.

This, he said, was the major and compelling role of the police.

The Inspector-General of Police, Muhammed Abubakar, said since the Nigeria Police made its foray into peacekeeping in 1960, it had made giant strides in peacekeeping operations at global, regional and sub-regional levels.

Abubakar said due to the exemplary performance of police officers, the African Union Commission had requested for a second Police Unit to the African Union Mission in Somalia.

He added that in line with the President’s transformation agenda, the force leadership had implemented a number of strategic initiatives to improve service delivery and welfare of policemen.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has granted approval to the Nigerian Air Force to acquire more fighter jets and helicopters in the ongoing campaign against terrorism and insurgency in the country.

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu, disclosed this during a press briefing on the forthcoming 50th Anniversary of the Nigerian Air Force in Abuja on Tuesday.

Amosu said that the Federal Government had also granted approval to the authorities of the Air Force to upgrade existing platforms in order to put the service in a better position to carry out its statutory security responsibilities.

He said that a major challenge of the Nigerian Force was obsolete equipment some of which, he said were acquired at inception.

One comment

  1. Of course there is no disputing the fact that our military and other forces are doing extremly well under the circumstances they found themselves like not well armed, not properly mobilised, not properly fed and ill motivated. Infact we can say they are the best in the whole world because no where will any military survive under our militarys situation talkless of making a little impact our military are making in fighting terrorism.

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