President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday directed an immediate overhaul of national security strategies, demanding urgent action to end the escalating violence in Borno, Benue, Plateau and Kwara.

The President who met with security chiefs at the State House, Abuja, for more than two hours, said the killing of innocent people in Borno, Benue and Plateau must cease.

“Enough is enough,” President Tinubu declared as he once again condemned the senseless targeting of innocent Nigerians, Mr Bayo Onanuga, the President’s spokesman, said in a statement.

Malam Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser (NSA), told State House correspondents that the service chiefs briefed the President on all the attacks in the states, the death toll, and the destruction of property.

The NSA said President Tinubu ordered a new approach to tackling the security challenges.

Ribadu noted that the President also actively monitored and gave instructions during his work visit to Paris and London.

“Mr President gave us the chance to come and brief him again. It lasted very long. We gave him an update on what was going on.

“Even when he was out there, he was constantly in touch, giving directives and following developments.

“Today, we had the opportunity to come and brief him again, and it lasted hours. It was a very detailed briefing, and it was exhaustive,” said Ribadu.

He said the security chiefs listened to Tinubu and took instructions from him.

“The fact is that Mr President is insisting that we work harder to restore security in the country.

“We gave him information on what has been happening and assured him of our commitment. We had carried out his instructions.

“We went to places with incidences of insecurity, such as Plateau, Benue, and Borno States.

“We went to those particular three states. We gave him feedback because he had directed us earlier to go and meet with the political authorities there,” he stated.

The NSA said the President highlighted the need to involve the local councils and state governments more in tackling cases of insecurity.

“The President directed that we work more with governors. He was very worried and concerned at the meeting. He said, ‘Enough is enough!” said Ribadu.

He said the attackers usually targeted innocent citizens by planting Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and targeting ungoverned areas. (NAN)

Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo has called Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) a major development.

Uzodinma, Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF), stated this while speaking with journalists in Abuja following a closed-door meeting with other Progressive Governors.

Report says that Oborevwori officially joined the APC on Wednesday.

“When a governor joins our party, we view it as a significant event and a moment to commend ourselves and thank Almighty God.

“That’s exactly our sentiment. The Progressives Governors resolved today to celebrate this development and extend congratulations to one another,” Uzodinma said.

He noted that governors not originally elected on the APC platform now recognise President Bola Tinubu’s efforts and are aligning with the party for a united Nigeria.

“The APC treats sub-national governance with great importance.

“So, a governor defecting to our party is a heavy development in our political journey,” he said.

Uzodinma said the governors discussed the welfare of the APC and current national issues during their meeting.

They pledged continued support for President Tinubu’s policies and vowed to strengthen the ruling party.

He stated that the Progressive Governors would promote Tinubu’s achievements so that Nigerians can fully appreciate the administration’s progress.

“We’ll counter blackmail and propaganda aimed at tarnishing the government’s image.

“We, as Progressive Governors, firmly support President Tinubu and the APC government in Nigeria.

“We are pleased with the progress. In spite of challenges, the reform policies are beginning to yield visible results.

“We pray God grants the President wisdom, courage and strength to deliver greater dividends of democracy for Nigerians,” Uzodinma said.

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) is currently holding a closed-door meeting with the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, to discuss the ongoing insecurity challenges in the country.

The meeting, presided over by the Chairman of the NGF, Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara, is focused on recent incidents of kidnapping, attacks, and killings.

The discussion centres on the security challenges in states such as Plateau, Benue, and others, with the aim of finding solutions to address the escalating violence.

Governors from states including Borno, Ekiti, Adamawa, Kaduna, Bayelsa, Gombe, Ogun, Imo, Oyo, Ondo, Benue, Nasarawa, and Plateau are in attendance, alongside the deputy governors of Niger, Enugu, and Bauchi.

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, was also participating in the discussions.(NAN)