By Abdullahi M. Gulloma Abuja
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo at the weekend condemned the renewed Boko Haram ambush, attacks and abduction of soldiers and civilians carrying out their duties in the Lake Chad Basin Frontier Exploration aimed at opening up new areas for oil exploration in the country. In a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity in the Offi ce of the Acting President, Mr. Laolu Akande, Osinbajo commiserated with the families, relatives and associates of those who lost their lives in the onslaught, and assured that government was on top of the situation. Th e Acting President directed military and all security agencies to immediately scale-up eff orts and activities in Borno state in order to maintain a strong and eff ective control of the situation and secure lives and property. While commending the military for the progress already recorded with the rescue of some of the abducted, Osinbajo also ordered the continuation of search and rescue missions to locate and ensure the freedom of all remaining abducted persons as soon as possible.
He said using all available and expedient means in the circumstances, justice would be pursued for the victims and against those who engage in this kind of unacceptable, criminal and terrorist conduct. Osinbajo also paid tribute to the offi cers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces for their gallant endeavours and sacrifi ces for the peace, security and territorial integrity of the country, and assured that the welfare of the families of the soldiers would be prioritised. He also commended the diligence of the management and staff of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the University of Maiduguri in pursuing government’s programme to grow the country’s current crude oil reserve base through potential exploration in the Lake Chad Basin. “Some of these extraordinarily selfl ess Nigerians from the NNPC and the University Of Maiduguri put their lives on the line that we and generations to come will enjoy the resources of this land. We will never forget that sacrifi ce,” the Acting President quoted as saying.
