Nigeria

Insecurity: FG to quickly recruit more soldiers - Osinbajo

Tuesday, February 04, 2020 at 5:54 AM by Onyirioha Nnamdi

- Vice president Yemi Osinbajo has revealed the federal government's latest plan to tackle insecurity in Nigeria

- Osinbajo said that President Muhammadu Buhari's administration is planning to recruit more male and female soldiers into the military

- The vice president said that the federal government is also looking into how to collaborate with local vigilante groups in this regard

In a bid to beef security in the country amid calls for the sack of service chiefs, Vice president Yemi Osinbajo on Monday, February 3, said that the federal government is making plans to recruit more soldiers.

Osinbajo disclosed this during a meeting in Abuja with representatives of the Arewa Pastors Forum for Peace, a northern group that consists of clergymen, Premium Times reports.

The vice president said that the federal government is doing everything it can and should to contain the rising level of insecurity in the country.

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He said that the plan of the current administration is to recruit more men and women into the military as well as collaborate with local vigilante groups and the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) to deal with the menace.

Osinbajo said: “So, there is a lot going on in terms of trying to beef up security. The security situation is one that is very challenging.

"We are also looking at aspects of surveillance – how we can do more aerial surveillance using drones and electronic devices to improve surveillance.”

He went on to say that the government is also not relenting in efforts to deal with the rampant unrest in the north and the growing religious intolerance.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that respected leaders in the north had thrown their weight behind President Muhammadu Buhari and his security chiefs.

The leaders under the aegis of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) gave their support in the wake of the criticisms of the Buhari administration over the growing security challenges.

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They urged the president and the security chiefs to remain focused on their war against the Boko Haram insurgency and other security challenges rocking the country.

The northern leaders said it is surprising to call for President Buhari's resignation over the security challenges, noting that the president is working hard to restore peace to the country.

The ACF also rejected the call for the security chiefs to be fired, saying it was uncalled for and unpatriotic.

The secretary-general of the ACF, Anthony Sani, told Leadership newspaper that President Buhari has done considerably in improving the security until the recently renewed attacks.

Sani noted that President Buhari's performance on security partly earned the second term, adding that the security challenges shortly after his inauguration.

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In a similar development, a traditional ruler in Osun state, the Olowu of Kuta, Oba Adekunle Oyelude Makama, Tegbosin 11, has advised the National Assembly and Nigerians calling for the sack of the security chiefs to have a rethink.