FG To Restructure National Security

President Goodluck Jonathan says the Federal Government is working on restructuring the nation’s security apparatus to meet current challenges.

Jonathan gave the assurance when the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) visited him in Abuja on Wednesday over the security situation in the country.

The President said the government was taking the issue of Boko Haram, Islamic sect, very seriously to end the spate of attacks.

Jonathan solicited the cooperation of Nigerians, particularly in fishing out those behind the dastardly acts and their sponsors.

“I encourage Nigerians to work with government because, collectively, when we work together, we will get over it. “The terrorists are human beings, they are not spirits. They live with us, they dine with us, so people know them. As long as Nigerians are committed to exposing them, we will get over this ugly situation,” he said.

“At the security level, we are doing our best. We will restructure, we will re-adjust and make sure that we get a team that will meet up with this challenge that we are facing today,” the President added.

The President also pleaded with religious leaders, to work together to fight terrorism and appealed to political leaders not to play politics with the issue of terrorism, in particular the Boko Haram sect.

“The issue of Boko Haram started a long time ago; it started like a small cancerous lump which was not treated. If at the beginning, appropriate response has been given it would not have developed to this level. I assure you that we know the challenges we are facing, government must protect the life and property of its citizens, that is the primary responsibility of government and we must do just that. I assure you that government is taking it seriously. Some arrests have been made, investigation is being done and God willing, most of the perpetrators will be brought to book,” he said.

Earlier, the delegation, led by the CAN president, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, condemned the terrorist attacks on Christmas day at Madalla in Niger State, Jos and Damaturu.

Oritsejafor, who read a prepared speech, described the attacks as a declaration of Jihad on Christians.

He said members of the association were “deeply sorrowed” over the deteriorating state of insecurity in the country, and called on the government to take decisive steps to confront it.

“Having reviewed the pattern, trend and frequency with which these terror crimes occur, it fits into the profile of Islamic Jihad over the years on the Christian community,” he said.

According to him, CAN finds the responses of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and other Islamic bodies on the matter to be unacceptable.

Oritsejafor said that Christians would retaliate if the spate of attacks continued unabated.

The Parish Priest, St Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla, Niger State, Rev. Fr. Isaac Achi (right), Archbishop John Onaiyekan of Abuja Diocese (2nd right), Archbishop Martin Uzoukwu of Minna Diocese (3rd right); Papal Representative in Nigeria, Archbishop Augustine Kasujja (4th right), and others pose during a visit to the church last Tuesday, after a Christmas Day bomb killed dozens of people.