Buhari highlights his govt’s plan to tackle incessant killings

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday highlighted what his administration aims to do in efforts to tackle the cases of incessant killings in many parts of the country.

The administration has been variously criticized for its seeming insensitivity over the killings, and destruction of properties, by suspected herdsmen.

But Buhari in a nationwide address on Tuesday May 29, in commemoration of the 2018 Democracy Day celebration, stated that his government is pained by the loss of lives, and will work to ensure a stop to it.

According to him, “we will not rest until all criminal elements and their sponsors are brought to justice. Government is boosting the capacity of our security agencies through recruitment of more personnel, training and procurement of modern equipment, enhancement of intelligence gathering as well as boosting their morale in the face of daunting challenges”.

While urging Nigerians to live in peace, the president said, “as we all celebrate our democratic experience, let us resolve to avoid hatred and intolerance; we can only achieve our objectives in an atmosphere of harmony and peaceful co-existence.

“The up-coming months will usher us into another season of general elections. Let me use this opportunity to urge us all to conduct ourselves, our wards and our constituencies with the utmost sense of fairness, justice and peaceful co-existence such that we will have not only hitch free elections but also a credible and violence free process”.

Buhari said that his government will continue to deliver the change it promised Nigerians, and that although his administration has faced a lot of challenges in its efforts to deliver the promised change, he however said that Nigerians have stood for his administration in achieving the three cardinal promises which are security, corruption and the economy.

He said, “This administration came at a time that Nigerians needed Change, the Change we promised and the Change we continue to deliver. We have faced a lot of challenges on this journey and Nigerians have stood by us in achieving the three cardinal points of this administration namely; Security, Corruption and the Economy.”

Buhari also said that commemoration of this year’s Democracy Day is a celebration of freedom, a salute to the resilience and determination of Nigerians and a recommitment by government to keep its promise to lead Nigeria into a new era of justice and prosperity.

On issues of insecurity resulting from herdsmen killings and kidnappings and Boko Haram terrorists Buhari said:

“The unfortunate incidences of kidnappings, herdsmen and farmers clashes in several communities which have led to high number of fatalities and loss of properties across the country is being addressed and the identified culprits and their sponsors shall be made to face the full wrath of the law. All the three tiers of Government are presently engaged with communities and religious organizations to restore peaceful co-existence among Nigerians.

“I want to commend members of the Multinational Joint Task Force drawn from Niger, Benin, Chad, Cameroon and our own country in collaboration with the International Community who are assisting in the fight against insurgency in the North East. I also commend the gallantry of members of our Armed Forces and other security agencies that have continued to provide security for lives and properties across the country. State and Local traditional authorities are helping with much needed intelligence in this fight against insurgency.

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On the fight against corruption, Buhari said that through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission ( ICPC), his administration has recovered billions of Naira, as well as forfeiture of various forms of assets. This alongside other efforts has improved Nigeria’s international image and regional cooperation.

 

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