Boko Haram: Osinbajo Meets Service Chiefs, IGP, DSS Boss
Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Sunday night, had another meeting with Service chiefs, Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris; and Director-General of Department of State Services, DSS.
The meeting, according to a tweet by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, was in continuation of the meeting the Acting President has been having with heads of security agencies over the renewed onslaught by the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, on innocent Nigerians.
Though the Federal Government had said that Boko Haram had been decimated, there have been frightening increase of kidnapping and suicide bombings by the terrorists in recent times.
Akande in his tweeter handle, did not give details of the outcome of the closed-door meeting that took place at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, but he said it was on the renewed efforts on the release of the abducted people, including some staff of University of Maiduguri Osinbajo orders continued search, rescue of abducted NNPC, UNIMAID staff
This came as Osinbajo, ordered immediate rescue of officials of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, and University of Maiduguri, UNIMAID, who were kidnapped by Boko Haram insurgents in Borno while on oil exploration mission in Lake Chad Basin.
He also said the Federal Government would do everything possible to end atrocities by insurgents in every part of the country, especially in the North East where Boko Haram holds sway.
The Acting President’s order came on a day Nigerian Army said that its search and rescue efforts for the kidnapped officials had led to the recovery of 21 additional bodies of the victims killed by the insurgents, oil explorers of NNPC ambushed on Tuesday, July 25, 2017 in Borno has led to recovery of 21 additional dead bodies, including five soldiers, 11 Civilian JTF operatives and five NNPC officials.
Osinbajo asked the Army to urgently rescue those still missing, condemning the ambush, attack and abduction of soldiers and civilians who were carrying out their duties to the nation in the Lake Chad Basin Frontier Exploration.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, who disclosed the order in a statement in Abuja, yesterday, said: “Prof. Osinbajo commiserates with the families, relatives and associates of those who lost their lives in the despicable onslaught and wishes the injured speedy recovery.
“While commending the military for the progress already recorded with the rescue of some of the abducted, Prof. Osinbajo has also ordered the continuation of search and rescue missions to locate and ensure the freedom of all remaining abducted persons as soon as possible, using all available and expedient means in the circumstances.
“He adds that justice would be pursued for the victims and against those who engage in this kind of unacceptable, criminal and terrorist conduct.
“Acting President Osinbajo pays tribute to the resilience, courage and bravery of officers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces for their gallant endeavours and sacrifices for the peace, security and territorial integrity of our country.
“He also commends the diligence of the management and staff of the NNPC, and the lecturers/consultants from the University of Maiduguri in pursuing Federal Government’s resolve to grow our country’s current crude oil reserve base through potential exploration in the Lake Chad Basin and that the government will by no means be dissuaded.
“Some of these extraordinarily selfless Nigerians from the NNPC and the University Of Maiduguri put their lives on the line that we and generations to come will enjoy the resources of this land. We will never forget that sacrifice.”