Acting President Osibanjo on Monday, held a private meeting with Security Chiefs, Minister of Defence, National Security Adviser and some heads of para-military outfits at the Vice President wing of Presidential Villa Abuja concerning the recent bombings in the country.
Also present at the meeting was the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari the Minister of Interior Abdulrahman Danbazzau and the Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima. The meeting lasted for about 2 hours.
According to Governor Shettima, “it was an exploratory meeting for us to cross pollinate ideas on the rebuilding of the North East. The federal government has magnanimously decided to support us in the Bama initiative, a very beautiful pilot scheme which we hope will be replicated in all parts of the devastated North East.”
He added that the Bama initiative was restoring the dignity of people in the area and rebuilding infrastructure to give them hope.
Regarding the issue of bomb blasts, Governor Shettima said “They have been sufficiently decimated. I am not underrating their capacity in the state but these are lunatics who bask on the opportunity of publicity to kill and maim so that they can get greater regard in the global Jihadist community.
“Definitely, we are also coming up with robust response towards addressing this issue of suicide bombing.”We have challenges no doubt about it. I am not actually discounting that fact, but when you put it in proper context, you will see that a lot has been done. They have been sufficiently decimated so that they can no longer hold on to any territory in the Nigerian federation.”
