The Minister of Police Affairs, Dr. Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, has said the security challenges the country was facing would not stop the 2023 general elections.
The minister gave the assurance while giving his achievements and activities since the return of the ministry in 2019 during the President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) Administration Scorecard Series (2015-2023), Thursday in Abuja.
Dingyadi maintained that just few elements were behind the securiry challenges and their activities would not deter the security agencies from ensuring the conduct of a free fair and credible election in 2023.
On police welfare, the minister said in July, 2022, all officers and men of Nigerian Police Force have been given improved and increased salaries structure approved by President Muhammed Buhari.
He noted that though the arrears were yet to be paid but assured that the federal government will soon sort out all outstanding issues.
Speaking on the activities of the Nigeria Police to tackle some of the security challenges across the country, the minister said, “the North East for instance, has a history of Boko Haram campaign against harmless citizens since 2009. These mindless terrorists subsequently sought alliance with the Islamic State For West Africa Province (ISWAP).
“A fierce military campaign and police support has degraded the terrorists capability and dislodged them from their hitherto strong base in the North-east.
“In the North-west, following onslaught on Boko Haram and its affiliate groups in the North East, the dissident elements, in a desperate survival attempt now synergize with bandits operating in the North West and parts of North Central, particularly the middle belt region.
“This ugly trend is currently receiving commensurate attention, through deployment of human and operational assets to neutralize the menace.
“In the short term, the Nigeria Police air component have been deployed to conduct survelliance and offensive on criminal enclaves within the corridors.
“Security in the South-east came under severe threat, following violent attacks on security formations and civilians by militant Biafran separatists group. Sustained security operations in this region has in recent times localized their operations to Imo and Anambra States, while government continue to employ strategies to engender peace and security in the entire South-east.
“Unlike the South-east, the South-south region is relatively peaceful. However, there are isolated cases of kidnap for ransom and armed robbery and it is been dealt with by the police and other security agencies. A special taskforce against oil theft set up by the inspector-general of police, is operating in the zone, to check illegal bunkering and related acts of economic sabotage.
“Security situation in the South West is similar to that of South South. There are pockets of kidnapping and cultism incidents which are being checked with considerable successes. Incidences of oil theft in this zone has also been reduced to the bearest minimal level.”
