President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday met with Governors of Nasarawa and Taraba States over the security challenges facing the two states.
The president met separately with the governors at the State House, Abuja and was informed of the recent attack on Taraba border by Ambazonia separatists from Southern Cameroun with an assurance that the federal government will step up action in addressing the issue of insecurity in the two states.
Speaking to newsmen after his close-door meeting with President Buhari, Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State said he was at the Villa to appreciate the president for the support being received by his state on security issues especially in the area of joint patrol operation by the police and armed forces personnel.
He said: “I came to express appreciation to Mr. President about all the support we have continued to receive in the area of security.
“You must have heard, there were several joint operations of the special forces, the military, the police, together with vigilante, the Air Force and the Navy in the two local government areas bordering Abuja and as a result, the various operations have been very successful.
“Recently, some of our schools were being targeted, we privately approached and actions were taken and then we thank almighty God that we’ve been able to dislodge those ones.”
On the Boko Haram insurgents that had gathered in parts of the state, he said they have now been dispersed.
His words: “Those are the ones I have mentioned that mostly they had been dislodged because of the joint operations, even from the support we get from my colleague in Kogi State. So, constantly, we share information with Kogi State as well as Benue and a lot of efforts have been put into that and so far, so good.”
The governor, however, stressed that despite the effort that has been put in, Nasarawa State is not yet free from insecurity.
“Well, nowhere in the world is completely safe, but to a certain extent, we can say we are. If you compare us with so many parts of the country, you can consider Nasarawa as a very safe place today,” he said.
Also speaking with newsmen, Governor Dickson Ishaku of Taraba State said he briefed President Buhari on the recent attack on parts of the state by armed soldiers from Cameroon.
He said he requested for assistance from the federal government to tackle security and other developmental issues in the state.
According to him, “I came to see Mr. President, on security issues. If you remember, some weeks back, there was an attack in Taraba State, specifically, at Manga, which has boundary with Cameroon. It was invaded by Ambazonia separatists from Southern Cameroon. They killed 11 people, including the chief of the small town. And I have not been able to see Mr. President because of his busy schedule and his travels.
“So I’m fortunate today to have an appointment with him, to brief him on details about what transpired and need to give us some assistance in that axis. It was a very usual discussion and I am happy.”
