After Paris, Jonathan meets security chiefs

Two days after the Paris agreement to tackle insecurity in Nigeria and neighbouring countries, President Goodluck Jonathan has held a meeting with the country’s security chiefs.

Details of the meeting were not revealed, but TheCable understands that it is a follow-up to the regional security summit hosted by French President Francois Hollande at the weekend.

“The issue of the kidnapped schoolgirls was also discussed,” a presidency official said.

Hundreds of girls were kidnapped by Boko Haram on April 14/15 and while it has drawn global condemnation, there are still no signs that the girls are closer to freedom.

A car laden with bomb exploded in Kano on Sunday night, killing five persons, including the suspected suicide-bomber.

Boko Haram has not yet claimed responsibility for it, although they are the prime suspects.

Those in attendance at yesterday’s security meeting were:

• Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Sabundu Badeh
• Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Kenneth Minimah
• Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin
• Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Ademola  Amosu
• Inspector General of Police, Muhammed Abubakar
• Director-General of State Security Service (SSS), Ita Ekpeyong
• Director-General, Nigeria Intelligence Agency, Ayo Oke

TheCable learnt that Nigeria is currently putting together its own strategies in line with the agreement reached in Paris.

Nigeria, Niger, Benin, Chad and Cameroon agreed to treat Boko Haram as a common threat to all.

The Nigerian insurgents are now to be treated as al-Qaeda militants in western and central Africa.

All the countries will now share intelligence and undertake military operations.