President Goodluck Jonathan Friday constituted a Fact-Finding Committee comprising security agencies, civil society and international organisations on Chibok abduction.
Gunmen suspected to be members of the dreaded Islamist sect, Boko Haram more two weeks ago abducted over 200 girls from a Government School in Chibok, Borno State.
However, conflicting figures are being bandied around thus, necessitating the President’s decision to set up the fact-finding team.
President Jonathan announced the decision at a marathon emergency national security meeting held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Friday.
Labaran Maku, Minister of Information who briefed State House Correspondents after the Security Council meeting however said the terms of reference and full membership of the committee would be made available to the public at a later date.
In attendance at the meeting were Vice President Namadi Sambo, Ministers of Defence, General Aliyu Gusau (rtd); Interior, Abba Moro; State for FCT, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide; Industry, Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga; State for Trade and Investment; Dr Samuel Ortom; Police, Abduljelil Adesiyan; Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke and Finance, Ngozi Okonjo Iweala.
The Service Chiefs present were the Chief of Defense Staff, Air Chief Marshall Alex Sabundu Badeh, Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Kenneth Tobia Minimah, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Ademola Nunayon Amosu, Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin, Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd) and Director General of State Security Service (SSS), Ita Ekpeyong.
The President summoned the meeting in view of the fresh bomb blast at Nyanya, that has left 19 dead and 66 injured.
According to Maku, Service Chiefs briefed the meeting on the latest Nyanya bomb explosion, the ongoing search for the abducted school girls, as well as the efforts made so far in combating insurgency.
The Minister, who was flanked by the spokesmen of the Defence, Police and SSS said “In view of the inconsistent and contradictory information available to government on the Chibok abduction, the President has set up a fact-finding committee comprising security agencies, civil society, international organisations and other stakeholders.
“The meeting received updates on the second Nyanya bombing, the ongoing search for the Chibok girls, and efforts made so far to deal with related incidents of insecurity and terrorism in the country.”
The Minister also disclosed that the President gave instructions for additional proactive measures by security agencies to enhance public safety, including increased public awareness for citizens to step up their cooperation with security agencies by reporting suspected activities and persons likely to cause a breach of public peace, safety and security.
Maku spoke further, “Extensive and intensive aerial surveillance by the Air Force has been carried out in all the routes leading into and out of Chibok up to the Chad and Cameroun borders.
“Other parts of Borno and Adamawa states are also under the searchlight. Every information relayed to security agencies has so far been investigated, including the search of all places suspected as a possible hide-away of the kidnapped girls.
“The police, backed up by the military and DSS, have combed and are still combing all reported places that the girls might have been taken to.”
President Jonathan again, commiserated with the families of the deceased while also directing full medical treatment for the victims at government expense.
The meeting also resolved that the upcoming World Economic Forum would hold as scheduled, assuring of adequate security of all participants.
