The Federal Government has assured Nigerians that the worst of insecurity in the country was over.
It said the killing of 66 Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists, arrest of 96, and surrendering of 3,407 were pointed to the fact the war against terrorists and other criminals was yielding positive results.
But the assurance came less than a day after gunmen killed a bus driver and abducted eight of his passengers in Rivers State. Also, terrorists detained a ‘go-between, who delivered N7 million for the release of a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in their custody.
Also, yesterday, Internal Affairs Minister Rauf Aregbesola told a House of Representatives joint committee that security operatives failed to prevent the July 5, 2022 invasion of Kuje Custodial Centre, Abuja, despite elaborate preparations beforehand.
The government, which also said that 52 civilians were rescued in the last four weeks, stated that the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway had been cleared of terrorists, bandits, and kidnappers.
It added that despite the successes so far recorded, there would not be a cessation of hostilities against terrorists, kidnappers, and oil thieves.
These were made known at a joint news briefing in Abuja by four ministers and the Chief of Defence Staff(CDS), Gen. Leo Irabor.
The ministers are Lai Mohammed (Information); Bashir Magashi (Defence); Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi (Police Affairs) and Aregbesola.
Mohammed, who briefed reporters first, said: “As you are all aware, the issue of security has dominated our national discourse in recent times, against the background of the terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping in the Northeast, Northwest, and Northcentral; separatist violence and crude oil theft in the Southeast and Southsouth as well as cultism, armed robbery and sundry crimes in the Southwest.
“We may not be there yet but our military and other security agencies have succeeded – and are succeeding – in substantially restoring security across the nation.
“As far as the daunting security challenges we face are concerned, we can tell you that the worst is over.