Vice-President Namadi Sambo, summoned Security Chiefs and the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji Abubakar Muhammed, to his office  in Abuja yesterday to assess the security situation in the country.

Our correspondent  reports that the emergency meeting might not be unconnected with violent activities of the Boko Haram militant group in some parts of the country.

The group claimed responsibility for Sunday’s explosions in Kaduna and Zaria.

Speaking to State House correspondents after the meeting, the National Security Adviser to the President, retired Lt.-Gen. Andrew Azazi, confirmed that the meeting was meant to find lasting solution to cases of insecurity in the country.

He condemned Sunday’s bombing of three churches in Kaduna and Zaria and the subsequent reprisal killings of innocent persons in Kaduna State.

He said that the situation in Kaduna had been brought under control following the intervention of security forces and religious leaders.

Azazi described the reprisal killings in Kaduna as criminal and appealed to religious leaders to call their adherents to order.

“Whatever is the situation, you have to end up talking.

“We want leaders to be proactive, we want church leaders to be proactive; we want youth leaders to be proactive to make sure that what you call reprisal doesn’t make sense to anybody.

“What we need to do is to be mindful that somebody is killing somebody in Zaria and you are retaliating somewhere in Zonkwa, that’s criminality.

“Things happen, as a nation, as a people, we must address the situation not necessarily by killing one another.’’

Azazi who commended the people of Kano State for their cooperation and assistance in the fight against terrorism in the state, called on media organisations to partner with security agencies in addressing security challenges in the country.

“In certain parts of the country today and I will give an example like Kano; they are more proactive. So, you find that you are able to arrest the situation before it gets to this level.

“But that notwithstanding, even a small country like Israel where you have terrorism in spite of all the walls, once in a while, they still succeed in detonating bombs.

“So, we will like to arrest the situation as soon as possible, but we need everybody’s help to discover where these are coming from.’’

The meeting was attended by the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petirin; the Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika; the Chief of Navy Staff, Vice Admiral Ola Ibrahim; the Chief of Air Staff, AVM Muhammed Umar and the Director-General of the State Security Service, Mr Ita Ekpeyong.

Meanwhile, the European Union (EU) has condemned Sunday’s attacks on places of worship in Kaduna State in which more than 60 people were killed.

The EU made the condemnation in a statement issued by Mrs Catherine Ashton, the union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, yesterday.

“I am appalled by the terrible attacks perpetrated against Christian churches in Nigeria on 17 June, following several similar attacks in recent weeks.

“I also deeply regret that reprisal attacks appear to have been made against members of the Muslim community.

“I condemn all such violence that leads to the loss of innocent lives and express my sincere condolences to the victims and their families,” Aston said.

She said the EU, through its Human Rights dialogue with Nigeria, would explore ways to promote greater understanding among the various communities “through wider dialogue in order to prevent such atrocities happening again”

Ashton urged the government to bring perpetrators of terror to justice.

She said the EU would renew its cooperation with Nigeria to address the underlying social and economic problems in the northern part of the country and “work with the authorities to make the fight against terrorism more effective’’.

It would be recalled that suicide bombers had in a coordinated operation attacked the ECWA Goodnews Church, and Christ the King Catholic Church in Wusasa , Zaria.

The explosions sparked violence in Kaduna, leading to reprisal attacks.