ABUJA—PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, directed service chiefs and heads of security operatives to arrest all security threats against the unity of the country.
The marching order came after a closed-door meeting the service chiefs and other security agencies had with the President at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Briefing State House correspondents after the meeting which lasted over three hours, Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, General Gabriel Olonishakin, said the directive was to promote the unity of the country and protect lives and property of the citizenry.
He said the security boss were advised to upgrade their operations and guarantee that troops did their assignments viably.
He stated: "We have been meeting with Mr. President throughout the previous three hours. All we have done is to refresh him on all security issues around the nation, inside the nation and outside the nation where our troops are.
"Obviously, we have quite recently refreshed him since he knows about what's been going on. He has been getting customary briefings from the Acting President and he has additionally been experiencing the print and electronic media to take after the happenings inside the nation.
"After the meeting, he gave mandates on a few regions we should take a gander at in order to upgrade our operations in the nation.
"In his address, he discussed the solidarity of the country which is non-debatable and all the military have been completely educated to guarantee that that order is done to the letter."
On whether there was an order from President Buhari on charged structure of mystery benefit by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, he stated: "The issues of security, each security risk, all security dangers were dealt with consistently — extending from fear mongering to hijacking, herders/ranchers conflict, to the IPOB issue, all were dealt with. Remarks were made in the matter of what to do as respects those issues."
Asked whether the military was preparing powers toward the South-East because of IPOB's constant unsettling for self-assurance of State of Biafra, Olonishakin stated: "Each security (issue), like I stated, has been dealt with and we will improve our operations in every one of the regions we have.
"Like I stated, he has given the vital mandates which will be completed by the military and the security offices."
On the confirmation the administration boss provided for the President on his mandate, the Defense boss stated: "The affirmation is that he additionally coordinated that we should guarantee that the lives and properties of the subjects are ensured and we should ensure that we secure the entire country and furthermore that troops that are outside complete their occupations adequately."
On the recharged surge of the Boko Haram in the North East, he stated: "On the Boko Haram issue, all of you know it is topsy-turvy fighting. It is not that the Boko Haram has ventured up their diversion, it is recently the issue of suicide shelling that has been the issue.
"Obviously, we are additionally working with knowledge organizations to ensure that we address that hazard."
It's a wrong approach—Afenifere
Responding, dish Yoruba socio-political association, Afenifere , said the President's request was a wrong approach.
Afenifere 's National Publicity Secretary, Mr Yinka Odumakin, who represented the gathering, stated: "I don't figure the President should manage Boko Haram and IPOB at the same time. Boko Haram and IPOB are not the same.
"While Boko Haram is a fear based oppressor association that approaches besieging individuals and spots, IPOB is an open association. What IPOB has done is to require a sit-at-home yet Boko Haram is a psychological militant gathering, with the exception of you need IPOB to go underground like Boko Haram.
"It is a wrong approach. You can't treat Boko Haram and an open association like IPOB in a similar way."
We're not amazed, but rather IPOB's not a psychological oppressor association — ECA, Igbo pioneers
In its response, Eastern Consultative Assembly, ECA, through its Secretary, Evangelist Elliot Ugochuchukwu-Uko, stated: "We are not amazed; it is a piece of the contempt. He can knot IPOB together with ISIS. We even anticipate that him will change the name of Enugu to Islamabad.
"We are asking that Nigeria be rebuilt. Those slaughtered previously were not outfitted and did not submit any known offense.
"We are stating that Nigeria must be rebuilt, not all that much and nothing less. It is a piece of Buhari's contempt for Ndigbo however we are unfaltering that Nigeria must be rebuilt. IPOB is not a fear based oppressor association and we are not amazed with this appalling choice.
Likewise, the Igbo Leaders of Thought , ILT, said it would preferably watch than remark on the dangerous circumstance.
The secretary, Professor Elochukwu Amucheazi, stated: "We won't talk now; how about we watch the advancement. Ecclesiastes Chapter 3 in Bible reveals to us that there is the ideal opportunity for everything. It says that to everything, there is a season and an opportunity to each reason under the paradise… "
What IPOB's doing is lawful — IPOB Ebonyi
Additionally responding, the administration of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, in Ebonyi State, said the President's request was disruptive and did not address issues important for national solidarity and advancement.
In an announcement in Abakaliki, the Deputy Coordinator of IPOB in Ebonyi State, Mr. Ugochukwu Nweke, stated: "What IPOB is doing is lawful and we are not perplexed. The President should address Boko Haram in the North-East, the shocking quit see by the Arewa young people, how to help the economy and the welfare of residents in Nigeria. He doesn't have the privilege to undermine IPOB or any gathering."