Buhari presides over National Security Council meeting; Celebrates release of Zamfara school girls 

President Muhammadu Buhari, Tuesday, March 2, 2021, presided over the National Security Council Meeting at the Council Chambers, State House, Abuja.

The meeting was attended by the newly confirmed Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Air Staff and other military Chiefs, among others.

The meeting is taking place against the background of security challenges across the country, especially the recent abduction of students from schools in Katsina, Niger and Zamfara States by bandits as well as the continuing activities of Boko Haram insurgents in the North East zone of the country, especially in Borno and Yobe states.

This is as the President expressed “overwhelming joy” over the release of the abducted female students of Zamfara State.

Reacting to the development, the President said “I join the families and people of Zamfara State in welcoming and celebrating the release of these traumatized female students.”

President Buhari said he was excited that their ordeal came to a happy end without any incident, adding that “being held in captivity is an agonizing experience not only for the victims, but also their families and all of us.”

However, while celebrating the release of the students, the President called for greater vigilance by the people so that human intelligence could be collected early enough to nip the bandits’ plans in the bud.

He warned that the time has come to reverse, completely, the grim and heartbreaking incidents of kidnapping. “Ransom payments will continue to prosper kidnapping,” he warned, while urging the Police and the Military to go after these kidnappers and bring them to justice.