11th March, 2016
Amidst deteriorating security situation in their respective states, the governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, and his Zamfara State counterpart, Alhaji Abdualaziz Yari Abubakar, who is also the Chairman of Nigerian Governors’ Forum, have visited the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai separately in his office at the Army Headquarters, Abuja to discuss security issues with him.
In his remarks, the Rivers State Governor stated that he was at the Army Headquarters to discuss security issues in the state that bordered on growing cult-related clashes and killings by some individuals in the state which has security implications, while preparation for the election was in progress.
He expressed concern over the atmosphere of security in the state.
The Chief of Army Staff equally expressed concern on the security situation in the state, especially on the utterances of some prominent individuals in the state that have serious security implications.
The visit of the Rivers State Governor has underscored the need to draw the attention of all political interest groups in Rivers State that the Nigerian Army will remain neutral and apolitical but will not spare anyone in the discharge of its security duty and the maintenance of peace.
“The Army had long been called out to assist the Nigeria Police in internal security duties. We shall continue to perform this constitutional duty professionally without bias in conjunction with other security agencies,” he said.
In a similar visit Zamfara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar, drew the attention of the Chief of Army Staff to the menace of cattle rustlers and armed banditry that are bedeviling some parts of the state and called on the Nigerian Army to assist.
He assured that the state would support the Army in clearing the rustlers and other criminals in the state.
In his response, the Chief of Army Staff assured the Governor that the Nigerian Army has been working in conjunction with other security agencies to rout cattle rustlers and other criminals not only in Zamfara State, but the entire North West geo-political zone where it was more prevalent.