‘The money saved from food importation will be used to purchase arms’ —Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Saturday, commented further on his earlier controversial statement revealing a directive to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to end provision of foreign exchange for food importation. This time, the president said the money saved from the policy would be used to purchase arms for the military.

Buhari also ordered the military to deal ruthlessly with bandits in order to restore peace in the country.

The president gave the order in Katsina while addressing 15 officers and 160 soldiers of the 17th Army Brigade and Nigerian Air Force 213 Operational Base, under the “Operation Hadarin Daji’’, at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Airport, Katsina, charging them not to spare the bandits.

According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, released in Abuja on Saturday, President Buhari have the order had in view of the fact that the bandits had been killing, maiming and extorting innocent citizens.

“This group was formed by the military to secure the geo-political zone from the activities of bandits. Fundamentally, it is your responsibility to secure the country.

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“As the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, I believe you are capable of doing it.

“I don’t think you should spare any bandit. Identify and eliminate them. Pursue them anywhere you can find them and eliminate them.

“Nigeria deserves peace. The rainy season is good and we are already achieving food security, but we need peace.

“The money saved from food importation will be used to purchase arms for operations”, the president was qouted as saying in the statement.

The President, who accompanied by Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina, used the opportunity to assure the troops that government would provide all the support they need for the restoration of peace in the country.

“We will give you all the right equipment so that you can deal with them (bandits) with despatch.

“I appreciate all your efforts but you can do more. I don’t want any bandit spared.

“Please give my regards to your families. The earlier you finish with the bandits, the earlier you will return and stay with your families,’’ he said.

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