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Nigeria Has Reviewed Bilateral Agreements With UK To Tackle Insecurity—Defence Minister

Babajide Iletogun

The Federal Government has reviewed the existing bilateral agreements between the United Kingdom and Nigeria intending to work out a new framework of action to decisively tackle insecurity in the country.

The Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (Retd) said this during a press briefing in Abuja.

He said that Nigeria’s cooperation with all other international partners, including and especially our neighbors, is also being strengthened.

For instance, he said just last week, the newly-elected President of the Niger Republic was in Abuja to visit President Buhari, and security was one of the items on the agenda.

He said the military is currently embarking on various security operations to ensure the safety of lives and property across all the regions of the nation.

The Minister told journalists that the Armed Forces would not be deterred from carrying out their duty of protecting the lives of the people.

While commiserating with the families and loved ones of the soldiers that were recently killed in Benue State, and other members of the armed Forces who have had to pay the ultimate price to ensure that that nation remain safe, he assured that the military are on the hunt for the killers of these soldiers, and would ensure that they face the full wrath of the law.

The Minister said, “I would like to use this opportunity to pledge this administration’s support, cooperation, and collaboration with security agencies to ensure those responsible for the dastardly acts that have been recorded are apprehended, to ensure that we restore the morale of soldiers and troops involved in the fight against insurgency, banditry and all forms of insecurity.”

Speaking on the measures being implemented to secure the country, he stated. “In the last four months, President Buhari has appointed new service Chiefs and a new Inspector- general of Police.

“The President has also directed that any persons found wielding AK-47s in the forests in any part of the country should be shot at sight. He also approved the enforcement of a No – Fly- Zone over Zamfara State, as well as a ban on mining activities in the State.

“In building and strengthening international partnerships, we have recently reviewed the existing bilateral agreements between the United Kingdom and Nigeria intending to work out a new framework of action to decisively tackle insecurity in the country.

“Our cooperation with all our other international partners, including and especially our neighbors, is also being strengthened. Just this week the newly-elected President of the Niger Republic was in Abuja to visit President Buhari, and security was one of the items on the agenda.”

The Federal Government, he added has also committed to continuing the improvement of the standard of the military training, welfare, and equipment.

He said high-caliber military weapons ordered by Buhari Administration are being expected to arrive on the shores of the country, adding that the deployment of this equipment would boost the morale of the soldiers and ensure that the insurgents are completely routed.

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