The Presidency has risen in staunch defence of Nigeria’s security forces, insisting they have their plans and ways of doing things which they will not display in the media.
Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media and Publicity) in a statement on Sunday said the dilemmas in dealing with the specific case of train terrorists are manifold: punitive action like the popular call for carpet bombing of the known locations may assuage the desire of an angry public for revenge, but what about the hostages? They have committed no offence. All they did was board a train.
“It suffices to say that the security forces are not relenting. They are acutely aware of their duties, responsibilities and what the nation expects of them. Whenever they embark upon those actions, they expect that the public should provide them with the needed support.
While pointing out that terrorism is a global scourge that must be fought by all actors- the military, the civilian population and the communication service providers, Mallam Shehu maintains that this is the only way safe havens of terrorists are eliminated in every part of the world.
To help the nation against the ongoing situation, Mallam Shehu stresses that the media must increase their support for the fight against the exploitation of the internet and social media for terrorist purposes.
“The Presidency, in the meantime, wishes to reassure the public that the President has done all, and even more than what is expected of him as Commander-in-Chief by way of morale, material and equipment support to the military and expects nothing short of good results in the immediate.”