President Muhammadu Buhari said on Thursday that he gave the order that security agents should shoot on sight criminal elements bearing AK-47 rifles because despite the government’s effort, small arms litter everywhere.
Besides, AK-47 is a registered weapon meant only for security operatives, he stressed.
The President spoke on Thursday at a meeting with leading traditional rulers on the security situation in the country.
He said: “One thing that got to the press, which I read myself, was that anyone with an AK-47 will be shot. This is because AK-47 is supposed to be registered and it is only given to security officials.
“We closed the borders for some time, but the intelligence report I’m getting on a daily basis is that those who are conducting the abductions, the killings, and so on are still not short of arms and ammunition.’’
Buhari spoke at a meeting in Abuja with the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria at the State House, co-chaired by Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III and Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.
The President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, in an interview last week said: “What can be stronger than the fact that the President has ordered security operatives to shoot anyone seen with dangerous weapons like AK-47, on sight, in as much as the person is not a security operative.”
He, however, expressed delight that his administration has recorded appreciable successes in the Northeast and Southsouth parts of the country.
Lamenting the security situation, the President said: “What surprises is what is happening now in the Northwest where the same people, with the same culture, are killing each other, taking their livestock and burning properties.
‘‘As a result of that, we had a four-hour meeting of the National Security Council attended by the Ministers of Internal Affairs, Defence, Foreign Affairs, Service Chiefs, Chief of Defence Staff, the Inspector-General of Police, and others and we gave clear instructions.”
The President expressed dismay over attacks on police stations and the killing of security personnel.
He urged traditional rulers to, as bridge builders in their respective communities, complement the government’s efforts at ensuring peace and security.
The Federal Government has also ruled out negotiation with kidnappers, bandits, and other criminal elements.
It will not also bow to the suggestion by Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum to hire mercenaries to fight Boko Haram.
National Security Adviser Babagana Monguno stated this yesterday during a ministerial briefing at the State House.
Restating his marching orders to Service Chiefs to bring the security situation under control, the President noted that closer control can only be achieved with the cooperation of traditional rulers and others who play critical roles in the society.
He said: ‘‘By your roles and positions with a history dating back hundred years, the people trust you implicitly and in return, you provide them with comfort and guidance in accordance with our cultural heritage and traditions.
‘‘You are the bridge builders in each of your communities. No one is better placed with your strength of moral authority to ensure that people who visit your communities for either business, leisure, or any honest and credible reason are protected and made to feel at home.’’
The royal fathers stressed the need for the traditional institution to be assigned definite roles, particularly on peace and security.
The monarchs, who made presentations are the Sultan; Ooni; Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, the Etsu Nupe, Dr. Yahaya Abubakar, King Jaja of Opobo, Dr. Dandeson Douglas Jaja; the Emir of Bauchi, Dr Rilwanu Adamu; Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Muhammad Iliyasu and the Alawe of Ilawe-Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Ajibade Alabi.
After the meeting, the traditional rulers told reporters that they stressed the need for the Federal Government to step up equipment to the armed forces to enable them to confront terrorists and bandits.
The meeting was also attended by security chiefs including Monguno; Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu; Director-General of Department of State Services, Yusuf Bichi, and the Director-General of National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Ahmed Rufai Abubakar.
