President Muhammadu Buhari has again charged heads of military and other security agencies in the country to rise up to their responsibilities and go after terrorists troubling the nation and eliminate them. He gave the charge after joining other Muslims to observe the Eid prayers at the Mambila Barracks Parade Ground, Abuja, in commemoration of Eid-el-Fitr.
President Buhari, while responding to questions after he returned to the Presidential Villa from the prayer ground, said his administration would continue to work to make the country safe for Nigerians, adding that it is the duty of security agencies to know terrorists’ hideouts.
President Buhari admitted having sleepless nights over the security situation in parts of the country. He, however, promised to spare no efforts in dealing decisively and mercilessly with the criminal gangs.
According to him, it is important to make the country safe, especially as the rains have started, noting that farmers must be assured of their safety as they return to the farms, thereby securing the country’s food production.
“Heads of the services: Army, navy, air force, the Inspector-General of Police and so on, are very much aware of the situation. It’s their duty to know where the terrorists are and eliminate them,” he said.
On the 2023 general elections, the President reaffirmed the commitment of his administration to a free, fair and transparent process. When asked who he would like to hand over power to, the President said: “The person that Nigerians elect.”
President Buhari, accompanied by some of his family members and personal aides, arrived at the prayer ground around 9:00 a.m. Others at the praying ground were members of the Federal Executive Council, security chiefs, heads of para-military organisations and government officials.
The two-raka’at prayer was led by the Chief Imam of the Barracks, Muhammad Dahey-Shuwa, who spoke on the significance and spiritual values of the just-concluded Ramadan fast.
The President had, throughout the period of Ramadan, joined the Muslim faithful at the State House Mosque in interpreting the Qur’an (Tafsir). He had also used his evenings to host guests from a cross-section of the country to Iftar (breaking of fast).
The President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, in a statement in Abuja, said the President used the occasions to practise the values projected by Ramadan.
These, according to him, include the promotion of discipline and personal sacrifice, care, and love for the less fortunate, promotion of national unity and support for the Armed Forces as they strive to end terrorism and other crimes in the country.
