President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday 31st July 2019 while meeting with some Royal Fathers from the South West region of the country, outlined some measures being taken by his administration to improve security nationwide.
The Traditional leaders from the South-West led by the Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi paid a courtesy visit to the President at the State House Abuja, weeks after the unfortunate death of the daughter to the leader of Yoruba socio-cultural organisation Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti. Although the President did not touch on the death of Mrs Funke Olakunrin on his Tweets on Wednesday, but in receiving the traditional rulers, he assured them that everything is being done to improve the security situation in the South West region and in Nigeria in general.
The President in his statement, said he is expediting commencement of community policing initiative, and revamping police intelligence gathering capacity in the country, saying:
“Our community Policing reform means we will be boosting the numbers of security personnel — and very importantly recruiting police officers from their Local Government Areas (LGAs), and stationing them there.
I will be issuing directives to the appropriate federal authorities to speedily approve licensing for States requesting the use of drones to monitor forests and other criminal hideouts.
We also intend to install CCTVs on highways and other strategic locations so that activities in some of those hidden places can be exposed, more effectively monitored and open to actionable review”he said.
On the relationship with State Governors on security issues,“he said:
“Working with the State governments, we will equip the police force with advanced technology and equipment to facilitate their work.
We will continue to bring in our military when needed to complement the work of the police, including the possible deployment of troops on certain highways on a temporary basis, and the use of Nigerian Air Force assets to bomb hideouts where criminals are located.
I want to assure all Nigerians that we will enforce the law, prosecute law breakers and secure an atmosphere of tranquility for all Nigerians wherever they choose to live. This is both in our interests as an administration and the interests of the people who voted us into office.
We acknowledge the need for security to deliver on our many programmes to the people. Indeed there can be no prosperity if there is no security. This is not only a message of hope but a call to action to all of us as we seek ways to secure our country.”