Arm Forest Guards, replace withdrawn policemen with Civil Defence for VIPs, Tinubu orders NSA, Interior Minister …Urges govs to remodel salvaged grazing routes into ranches
By Bamret Zuhumben
President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday ordered the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, to arm the Forest Guards in order to rid the forest of criminals.
The directive is in furtherance of sustained efforts and strategies to boost the fight against insecurity in the country.
President Tinubu also directed the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Ojo, to liaise with the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to replace the policemen withdrawn VIPs with trained and armed Civil Defence personnel.
Tinubu equally directed the National Executive Council (NEC) chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima to work with state governors to remodel salvaged grazing reserves and turn them into ranches in order to stem frequent farmer/herder clashes.
The directive on the replacement of policemen with Civil Defence, it was learnt, followed reports that some VIPs were not comfortable with the Presidential order declaring emergency on insecurity by ordering withdrawal of Policemen from their convoy so that they could face their core mandate.
It was learnt that some politicians have expressed fears of being exposed with the withdrawal of Policemen from them hence the latest directives that the policemen on guard duties with the VIPs be substituted with Civil Defence personnel.
Speaking ahead of the commencement of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Council Chamber of the Aso Rock Presidential Villa on Wednesday, he said:
“And I told the IGP and I hope the Minister of Police Affairs is here, if you have any problem of security because of the nature of assignment, please contact the IGP and get my clearance.
“The Minister of Interior should liase with IGP and Civil Defence structure to replace those police officers, who are on special security duties so that you don’t leave people exposed.
“NSA and DSS to provide further information and form themselves the committee and review the structure.It should be effected. We face challenges of kidnapping and terrorism. We need all the forces that we can utilise.
“I know some of our people are exposed and I understand that we have to make exceptional provision for them and Civil Defence are equally armed and I want to know that from NSA to arm our forest guards too, take it very seriously.
“Again, specially livestock reform, I think the Vice President should get the NEC first of all to see which village or grazing reserves that can be salvaged or rehabilitated into Ranches, Livestock settlement.
“We must eliminate the possibility of conflicts and turn the Livestock reform into economically viable development. The opportunity is there let’s utilise it.
“And it is in NEC, if we exercise the constitutional requirement which states that the land belong to the states, which ever one they can salvage convert to Livestock village let us stop this conflict area and turn it to economic opportunities and prosperity.”
