Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday stated that criminals who were terrorizing causing mayhem in several parts of the country should be dealt with appropriately without having to resort to ethnic profiling.
The president went on to reiterate that government shall continue to deal with insurgents, bandits, kidnappers, and other criminal elements who constitute threats to innocent citizens across the country.
Speaking while declaring open a meeting of the 19 the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) and Council of Northern Traditional Rulers at the Government House, Kaduna, Buhari who was represented by the Chief of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari said, ‘Criminals are criminals and should be dealt with accordingly as such, without resorting to ethnic profiling’.
He said he had already tasked the new Service Chiefs to devise new strategies that will end the ugly situation where the lives of people continue to be threatened by hoodlums and criminals.
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He said the meeting between the NSGF and the Northern Traditional Council provides a platform for deep reflection and dialogue on pertinent issues affecting not only the north but the nation as a whole.
‘No doubt, this kind of robust engagement provides a veritable platform for deep reflection and dialogue on pertinent issues affecting not only the Northern Region but the nation as a whole.
‘These include the unity, peaceful coexistence, security and other parameters of development’, Buhari said.
He commended the efforts of the NSGF for their ‘contribution towards National Growth and development, especially in this challenging period in our nation’s being where certain fundamental issues of our corporate existence need to be frankly deliberated upon and actionable resolutions reached.’
According to him, the meeting came at a time when the nation was making steady progress in addressing the many challenges impeding development and progress. ‘We are providing critical infrastructure such as roads, railways, airports among which are critical to the economic prosperity of our people as well as economic opportunities for our citizens to pursue legitimate aspirations that grow the economy.
‘At the same time, we are confronting the various dimensions of security challenges that continue to slow down the emancipation of our people from poverty and economic deprivation’, Buhari lamented.
He finally urged them to discuss and devise ways of building stronger collaboration with the security architecture and the people in defeating criminality across the region and the nation at large.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK