NSA having sleepless night over insecurity — FG committed to ending terrorism, says Tunji-Ojo

Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, minister of interior, says the federal government is intensifying efforts to address the country’s insecurity challenges.

Speaking on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme on Tuesday, Tunji-Ojo said Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser (NSA), is deeply concerned and losing sleep over the insecurity challenges.

The minister’s comment came in the wake of Lakurawa, a new terrorist group, killing 15 people at Mera village in Augie LGA of Kebbi state.

The defence headquarters (DHQ) had recently declared nine leaders of the terrorist group wanted.

Edward Buba, director of defence media operations, said the group had begun infiltrating northern Sokoto and Kebbi from neighbouring Niger Republic and Mali.

Buba said the recent coup in the Niger Republic disrupted military cooperation between the country and Nigeria.

Tunji-Ojo said all concerned security agencies and heads are working round the clock to address the country’s insecurity challenges.

“Nobody is resting. Not the NSA, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, not the minister of defence, not the chief of defence Staff, not the DSS,” the minister said.

“Nobody is sleeping; we are working. This security issue is a major issue of national concern, and I will not sit here and refuse to take responsibility for the security of Nigerians on behalf of the president.

“I will tell you that the national security adviser is working round the clock with us, the defence, and of course the armed forces. And I want to assure Nigerians that we are on top of the security situation.

“The fact remains that as much as we are talking about results and effects, we must also not forget that the question is, how did we get here?

“I can tell you that under President Bola Tinubu, there’s a determination to solve this issue. But we must make sure that as much as we are solving these issues, we do not give room for other issues like this in the future.

“Security is a growing concern. When you decimate one group, other issues can arise because you are dealing with an ideological battle.

“I tell you, we are doing a lot. We have been able to handle our core conventional borders, and these are porous borders where we have the marching order of the president, and we are already working on that.

“It is not easy to solve problems that have persisted for over a century in just one year, but at least we can be on the right track.”

Tunji-Ojo asked Nigerians not to judge Tinubu, adding that the president is aware of the security challenges.

“The president is sensitive to these issues. Do not judge the president or this administration by the level of assurance. Talk is cheap; the real deal is the action,” he added.

“We came May 29 last year; I don’t want us to bring politics into this. We all know the situations across the board; have we gotten to where we want to get to?

“The answer is no. Are we where we were? The answer is no. We have made progress.”