Shettima Meets Heads of Security Agencies over Resurgence of Boko Haram Attacks

By Micheal Olugbode in Maiduguri

Following the resurgence of attacks by remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists in some parts of Borno State, Governor Kashim Shettima has held an emergency security meeting with the heads of security agencies in the state.

The meeting, THISDAY gathered, was attended by heads of the Nigerian Army, Air Force, police and the Department of State Services (DSS).

The meeting was aimed at taking proactive measures on how to increase surveillance and forestall unanticipated security breach.

The governor began the meeting with a three-hour closed-door meeting with the Theater Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Leo Irabor, at the Governor’s Office in the Government House, Maiduguri.

During the meeting, the governor was briefed on the recent attacks and ongoing military operations while discussions were held with assurances that the remnants of the insurgents were on suicidal mission given their displacement from their former headquarters at the Sambisa forest.

The governor’s Special Adviser on Communications and Strategy, Malam Isa Gusau, said in a statement yesterday that after the meeting with the Theater Commander who is not a member of the state security council,   Shettima presided over an emergency meeting of the council which involved core armed forces.

The over three-hour meeting was held at the council chambers of the Government House, had in attendance the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division of the army, Brigadier General Victor Ezugwu; the Commander, 79 Composite Group of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Charles Oho; the state Commissioner of Police, Commissioner of Police, Damien Chukwu; the Garrison Commander, 7 Division of the army, Brigadier General Jibrin G. Mohammed; the state Director of the DSS, Suleiman Kankia; Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ibrahim Abdullahi; the Secretary to the State Government, Usman Jidda Shuwa, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Kaka Shehu Lawan and the Permanent Secretary in charge of security.

At the end of meeting, it was gathered that new guard locations were established in some routes across the state to curtail the movement of remnants of Boko Haram fighters; deployment of security personnel to various locations were increased with more members of Civilian JTF (youth volunteers involved) while the governor gave approval for the release of additional patrol vehicles to security agencies for increased surveillance.

The governor also approved logistics to compliment efforts of the federal government in strengthening armed forces while measures were adopted to strengthen the Civilian JTF and hunters.

The meeting also reviewed synergy between formal armed forces and volunteers with steps adopted to increase collaboration and clamp down on cattle rustling used by insurgents to raise funds.

The council deliberated on the recent false information spread by mischief makers to cause disaffection between armed forces and volunteers particularly the Civilian JTF, with the council warning mischief makers against destabilising the emerging peace across the state.

Gusau said the measures adopted at the meeting were already being implemented at the weekend.