The Minister of Defence, Maj-Gen. Bashir Magashi (rtd), on Wednesday presided over an Inter-Ministerial meeting in furtherance of Presidential Commitment  to end banditary, insurgency  and related crimes threatening  Nigeria’s territorial integrity  is receiving immediate  attention.

This,  according  to the Special Assistant Media and Publicity to the Minister of Defence, Mr. Mohammad  Abdulkadri, followed a standing directive handed down to four Ministers by the  Commander-in- Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari,  to evolve new strategy  to deal with the security challenges in Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto and other parts of the country.

Mohammed stated that the Ministers who were charged with the responsibility  to fashion out a new operational template to end the activities of the criminal elements are those whose portfolios take charge of security  operatives Military and paramilitary Operatives. They include: Ministers of Defence, Maj Gen Bashir  Salihi Magashi, Police Affairs, Muhammad  Maigari Dingyadi, Interior, Rauf Aregbesola and Information and  Culture, Lai Mohammed.

He said the strategic security  interface by the four political  heads which lasted for about three hours were held behind closed doors.

Magashi, while speaking at the end of the meeting revealed  that the political heads have resolved to drive the Presidential directive to achieve  the end-state  of putting the country  back on the track of normalcy especially  the states facing daily incursions of banditary and terrorism.

He said  issues in the front burner of public concern regarding the banditary and killings in katsina,Zamfara and Sokoto states were properly put in context and well articulated  for policy implementation.

The host Minister assured that the military will double their efforts to decimate the bandits for peace to reign in their operational axis.

He said the inter-ministerial meeting is scheduled  to hold every fortnight.

On his part, the Minister of Police Affairs,Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi assured on effective inter- ministerial  and inter- agencies  collaboration as deliberated during the closed door meeting.

He said it is in  tune with the Presidential directive to evolve  new operational  guidelines  for implementation by security  agencies involved in anti-banditary and anti- insurgency operations.

The Minister  of information,  Lai Mohammed revealed that the meeting focused on how to deploy crisis communication strategy  to end the phenomenon  of banditary activities in the country.

While reiterating the essence of information  sharing  and synergy among security agencies  with a view to flushing  out criminality  in the country,  Lai Mohammed  said all hands must be on deck to support   government’s efforts.

The Minister of information  concluded that the strategic security  meeting fulfilled its intended purpose as directed by President  Mohammadu Buhari.