President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday, issued fresh orders to the military to take the fight against terrorists to their “hideouts and ensure they are completely eliminated.”
President Buhari also urged the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, and its agencies to come up with specific programmes to address the urgent threats being posed in the North-East region.
According to a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, Buhari gave the order on the occasion of the World Humanitarian Day, 2022, in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
The statement is titled ‘President Buhari directs humanitarian affairs ministry, others to ensure unimpeded return of IDPs in the North-East, directs security agencies to eliminate insurgents.’
Buhari, who affirmed the government’s commitment to reducing the effect of disasters, climate change, insurgency and challenges of Internally Displaced Persons, directed the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and its agencies to pay particular attention to emerging issues amid the return and rehabilitation of Nigerians displaced in the 13-year conflict and insurgency in the region.
To the military, he said, “The men and officers of Operation Lafiya Dole, Security Agencies and the Multi-National Joint Task Force are very much appreciated for their commitment to the fight against insurgency.
“I commend their professionalism and tactical penetration to the hideout of the criminal elements, leading to appreciable improvement of the security situation in this North-East Region, without which the resettlement of the IDP’s would not be possible.
“I, therefore, implore you not to relent in your efforts, continue to take the fight to their hideouts and ensure they are completely eliminated.”
The Commander-in-Chief also implored the military to ensure adequate security for farmers in their farming activities saying “Agricultural activities are most needed for settlement and development of the rural areas and this can only be achieved if the farmers are sure of their safety.”
Harping on unexploded improvised explosive devices, the President said, “The emerging issues include the increasing number of orphans and widows. From our experience in the unfortunate Civil War, I know the threat that unexploded ordnances can pose to returnees even after the conflict has ended as we saw in the latest IED incident in Bama just last week.
“I urge the Ministry and its agencies as well as State Governments and the Special Committee I have set up under the Chairmanship of the Vice President to come up with specific programmes and projects that respond to these emerging challenges of explosive ordnance as well as that of children orphaned by insurgency.”
On World Humanitarian Day, commemorated annually on August 19, President Buhari commended all humanitarian aid workers that provided the much-needed assistance to those afflicted by the conflict.
“This typifies the nature of humanitarian work and sacrifice, and it is a great testimony for the theme of this year’s World Humanitarian Day which is “It Takes a Village,” he said.
The President led other guests at the event in Maiduguri to observe a minute of silence in memory of all who lost their lives in disasters and humanitarian workers who died in the line of duty.
