President Muhammadu Buhari has dispatched the NSA, Babagana Mungono, other intelligence and Security Chiefs for a security assessment visit and meeting with the Katsina State Government as well as commiserate with people of the state over the recent bandits’ attacks.

Mungono, who led the team told Governor Aminu Masari that the delegation was dispatched to meet with the government and people of the state towards a lasting solution to the security challenges.

He noted that part of their mandate was also to meet with the governor and relevant stakeholders, to enable them to map out strategies on the way forward and proffer solutions to the unfortunate occurrences.

The NSA disclosed that President Buhari was sad over the security challenges in Katsina State, northwest region, and other parts of the country.

“As professionals in security matters; we will not relent in our efforts to ensure that we nip the evil on the bud,” he said.

Munguno added that the team had assessed the security situation on the ground, adding that more strategies would be adopted to tackle the situation.

Meanwhile,  the NSA, Babagana Monguno and the Security Chiefs, paid a condolence visit to the Emirs of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumin Usman and Daura, Alhaji Faruk Umar-Faruk. Mr Monguno, who spoke at the palace of the Emir of Katsina, told the monarchs that the team was dispatched on the presidential order to commiserate with people of the state.

He reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to end the bandits’ attack and restore peace to the state.

Responding, Usman who spoke on behalf of the two emirs thanked the delegation for the visit, saying that some disgruntled elements were sabotaging President Buhari administration’s effort toward peacebuilding in the state.

The monarch enjoined the media to ensure accuracy, fairness and objectivity in their reportage of incidents and security situation in the country.

Monguno was accompanied in the visit by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Muhammad Adamu; the Chief of Defence Intelligence, AVM Muhammad Usman, the Director-General of National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmad Rufai and the Director, Department of State Security (DSS) Yusuf Bichi.

Communities must intensify efforts on intelligence, information–NSA

Speaking further, Monguno urged local communities in Northern Nigeria  to intensify efforts toward providing intelligence  information to security  agencies on activities of criminals there.

He said  that  such information would  enable  the security agencies  to address  the insecurity  bedeviling  states in the North Western region of the country.

Monguno made the call  in Katsina on Wednesday after meeting with Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina State on security challenges bedeviling the state.

He said: “President Muhammadu Buhari  has directed me to lead the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu; the Director General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Rufai Ahmad; the  Director General (DG) of  the  Department of State Security (DSS) Yusuf Magaji Bichi;and  the Chief of Defence Intelligence Agency, AVM MS Usman, to find solutions to the security challenges in the north western part of the country.

“We had a frank discussion with the governor on the recent happenings in  Katsina state and other states in the northwest region.”

“What I saw on ground is very disturbing; obviously, we need to have collective efforts from  both local communities and  security agencies in tackling the situation.

“We need to build confidence to win the trust of the local communities,” he added.

The NSA  said that  they started with Katsina state because it was  the most affected by the problem.

He noted that they had discussions with the governor on the causes and possible solutions to the problem.

According to him, the  President Buhari-led administration has been spending  more on security than the  previous administrations since the country returned to democracy.

He said that  the security agencies would need more of intelligence information  now the local communities to end security challenges in the region.

Credits| NAN