President Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated his order to security agencies to ‘‘flush out’’ those perpetrating violence in the South east and other parts of the country.
‘‘I must register my deep and grave concern with regards to the deteriorating state of security affairs in this region”, Buhari told a meeting with South East leaders in Abakaliki, during his two-day visit to Ebonyi.
‘‘In the last 48 hours, I have been informed of the latest in the round of brutal actions carried out by gun-wielding terrorists, who prey on innocent and hardworking citizens, unfortunately, these barbaric acts were visited upon those who have committed their lives to protect their fellow citizens,’’ he said.
‘My worry is for our hardworking and innocent civilians, for whom life is already tough and would like to earn a decent and honest living.
‘‘There are many that fit this profile and the government owes them that obligation to protect lives and property.
‘‘I will once again repeat, no one has the right to carry an AK-47, and anyone seen in any part of the country doing so and is not a law enforcement officer is a threat to our peaceful coexistence and should be treated as such,’’ he said.
The President paid tribute to members of the Nigerian armed forces who recently lost their lives in the region.
He pledged that the Federal Government would deploy its strength to protect innocent and hardworking Nigerians from terrorists and those causing break down of law and order in the South East region.
In his remarks, Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi said President Buhari would be remembered as a man who did not use the plight of the people of the South East to play politics but came to their rescue severally.
The Governor urged Southern leaders to work towards finding a political solution in resolving some challenging issues, warning that the region is at ‘‘crossroads.’’
