By Yochuku Ofoka Yobolisa, Editor in Chief
The National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Mongonu (rtd) has held a crucial roundtable with the chief executives of the seven northwest states of Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Kano, Jigawa, Sokoto and Zamfara.
Designed as a Town Hall meeting, the summit which held at the Arewa House in Kaduna, the Kaduna state capital, had all the service chiefs in attendance. It was aimed at finding a solution to the lingering security problems in the zone.
“The Town Hall meeting is aimed at addressing the security challenges bedevilling the northwest part of the country,” the NSA said.
He, however, added that the roundtable will be replicated in the other geopolitical zones of the country with a view to finding a workable blueprint in the fight against regional and national insecurities. He revealed that the President and Commander in Chief were not happy over the state of wanton destructions and loss of lives happening all over the nation.
In his remarks, the Chief of the Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, assured the NSA that the military and all security agencies in the country will intensify efforts to bring the challenges to an end.
However, the CDS said that some of the reports circulated in the traditional and social media platforms about escalating insecurity in the country are not entirely correct, adding that such reports could be very misleading.
Sheik Ahmad Gumi, the Islamic cleric who once mediated between bandits and the government in the Zamfara schoolgirls abduction, urged Nigerians to eschew religious, tribal and political sentiments and put forward a united front against terrorist violence in order for the country to achieve peace and progress.
Gumi called on leaders in the faith community to forget their differences and rather preach peace to their followers.
Apart from the 7 northwest states, the governor of Plateau state also attended the meeting in his capacity as chairman of the northern governors’ forum. Many traditional and regional leaders also attended the summit.
