Buhari Restates Commitment to National Security

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday in Katsina, the Katsina State capital, said his government was committed to getting rid of security threats and violent crimes from Nigeria.

He consequently charged members of the armed forces to keep fit physically, mentally and emotionally to cope with “the enormous demands and challenges to our values and aspirations as a nation.”

The President gave the charge while declaring open the eight edition of the Nigerian Air Force Games, tagged Katsina 2016.

The President, who was represented at the occasion by the Defence Minister, Mansur Dan Ali, declared, “As a government that is responsible, we shall not relent to secure a better Nigeria for our children.’’

He observed that the games would rekindle the spirit of comradeship among NAF officers and men.

The Chief Of Air Staff, Air Marshall Saudiq Abubakar, had earlier in his address, revealed that the Nigerian Air Force would soon have an operational base in Katsina and in Daura, as part of efforts to strengthen its capacity to protect the nation’s  territory.

He appreciated the support he said President Buhari was giving to the Air Force, assuring Nigerians that the force would never shirk in its responsibilities in the current fight against economic saboteurs and insurgents.

“NAF is fully committed to defending Nigeria territory and protect it from insurgents and economic saboteurs,” he declared.

The Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, while speaking at the event, said he hoped that the event would produce athletes that would represent Nigeria in international championships.

He observed that Nigerian armed forces including the Nigerian Air Force, had played significant roles in shaping the country’s sporting sector.

The opening ceremony, which commenced at about 3pm, witnessed march past by the participating athletes, air display by the NAF aircraft, among other events. The ceremony was still on as of press time.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Civilian JTF Operations in Adamawa State, Bukar Jimeta, said his men killed scores of Boko Haram fighters in a counter-offensive operation carried out at Imursa in Madagali Local Government Area of the state.

The Civilian JTF also said it recovered four AK 47 rifles, one rocket-propelled grenade launcher, one unexploded IED and several live rounds of ammunition.