Buhari meets service chiefs, N/Delta group

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday met with the service chiefs and heads

of security agencies to review military operations in the Niger Delta region.
He also at a meeting with a delegation of the Niger Delta Dialogue and Contact
Group led by King Alfred Diette-Spiff, the Amanyanabo of Twon Brass in Bayelsa
State, said he wanted as much intelligence report as possible on the crisis in
the Niger Delta.
The meeting with security chiefs which was held inside the president's office
lasted about four hours with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the
Government of the Federation Babachir David Lawal, Chief of Staff to the
President Abba Kyari, National Security Adviser Babagana Monguno and Minister
of Defence retired Brigadier-General Mansur Dan Ali in attendance.
The service chiefs present at the meeting include the Chief of Defence Staff
Gen. Gabriel Abayomi Olonisakin, Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai,
Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar and Chief of Naval Staff Ibok-
Ete Ibas.
The meeting was also attended by the Director-General of the Department of
State Services (DSS), Lawal Daura, the Director-General, National Intelligence
Agency (NIA), Ayo Oke and the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris,
none of whom spoke to newsmen after the meeting. But it was gathered that
the meeting also reviewed counter-terrorism operations in the Northeast.
Receiving the Niger Delta group, Buhari said: "I want to get as much
intelligence as possible on the situation in the Niger Delta. I have encouraged
law enforcement agencies to contact leaders like you in order to have enough
information to deal with the issues once and for all".
The president sympathised with investors who, he said, borrowed money to
invest in the region but had not recouped their investments due to insecurity.
He reiterated his appeal to those perpetrating violence in the region to embrace
peace and give government a chance.
Assuring that his administration would rebuild Nigeria, including the Niger Delta
region, the president solicited patience and understanding from the citizenry.
Earlier, King Alfred Diette-Spiff had said his group was made of peace builders
dedicated to peace and stability in the region.
Source: Dailytrust