Former presidential aide, Reno Omokri has told Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed that security in present-day Nigeria was not better than what obtained five years ago.
He stated this in a Facebook post while reacting as the minister praised the efforts of the Federal Govenrment and security agencies to ensure greater security during a press briefing on Monday.
Lai Mohammed had said that the security forces had neutralised 152 terrorists and other criminal elements since the beginning of the year.
He hinged this on the Buhari administration’s commitment to re-energising and reorganising the security forces’ capacity to engage, push back and dismantle the operations of both internal and external extremist and criminal groups waging war against Nigeria.
“I can tell you today that the armed forces, the police and other security and intelligence agencies are ramping up their efforts to enhance security of lives and property across the country, and the results are beginning to show,” Lai Mohammed said.
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“Therefore, we will be highlighting, at this press conference, the recent successes recorded by the Armed forces and other security and intelligence agencies in the fight against terrorists, bandits and other criminals.
“Since the security agencies take the bashing at the slightest occasional security reversals, they also deserve our commendation and support when they live up to their billing, as they are doing presently.
“Since the beginning of this year, which is barely three weeks old, the Armed Forces of Nigeria have neutralized 158 criminal elements across the country.
“This is in addition to scores of other terrorists and armed bandits killed during air strikes. Some 52 criminal elements were arrested, with scores of arms, ammunition and equipment recovered.
“Troops have also rescued a total of 17 kidnapped victims across the country. In addition, a total of 684,856 barrels of stolen crude oil, 1,724,000 litres of stolen Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and 500,000 litres of Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK) have been recovered.
Furthermore, a total of 1,184 of 25kg bags of Yaraliva Nitrabor Fertilizer were impounded by the troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria. Please note that in addition to the numbers of neutralized criminal elements quoted above, many others were incapacitated and their camps destroyed.
“Gentlemen, the successes being recorded by the security and intelligence agencies in fighting insecurity did not come cheap. They have come as a result of the unrelenting efforts and sacrifices of the gallant officers and men of the military as well as other security and intelligence agencies that conduct operations across the country.
“Even though some of the troops paid the supreme price in the course of the operations, the security and intelligence forces have consistently exhibited gallantry and resilience in the various operations. We owe them a debt of gratitude,” Lai Mohammed’s address to the media read in part.
Reacting, Omokri said, “Lai Mohammed released a statement today, in which he said as follows: ‘Nigeria’s security situation is far better than what we met in 2015.’