The National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno (retd) on Monday led the newly appointed Service Chiefs to meet with North West Governors, religious and traditional leaders over banditry and other security challenges bedeviling the region.
In attendance at the meeting were: Governors Simon Lalong(Plateau); Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna); Bello Mattawale (Zamfara); Atiku Bagudu (Kabbi); Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano); Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto); Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa) and Aminu Masari (Katsina).
Also in attendance were: Emir of Zazzau, Amb. Ahmed Nuhu Bamali; renowned Islamic scholar, Dr. Ahmad Gumi; Chief of Defence Staff Major General Lucky Irabor; Chief of Army Staff Major General Attahiru; Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Amao and the Chief Naval Staff who was represented as well as Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu represented by the Kaduna Police Commissioner, Umar Muri among others.
Speaking at the meeting, which has now been rescheduled to a later date due to absence of other major stakeholders, the NSA said the security situation in the country was surmountable.
Munguno said President Buhari is committed and determined in the vigorous pursuit to bring an end to insecurity in the country and that would happen, but there is need for all in the community to work together to deal with this issue.
According to him: “I don’t want to believe that we cannot put an end to insecurity in this country perhaps we don’t have the will to do that.
“Lots of lives have been lost but the issue of us converging as a nation to deal with our problem is important as our greatest strength lies in our diversity. We have lots of people who have been engaging to undermine security in Nigeria.
“There are people who believe that there is no hope again that we cannot do it that we have reached a dead end. I say it is not the end of time. So, we have to pull ourselves by the boot strap to re energise the society and find solution to the challenge.
El-Rufai said the bandits are bolder as they attack military camps and those on patrol.
Lalong stressed the needs for peace across the country, noting that peace remains the universal religion that does not differentiate between Christians and Muslims.