President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday hurriedly held an emergency meeting with the Service Chiefs and the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar over the latest attack in Bama barrack in Borno state.
The closed door meeting which focused mainly on the Bama attack was held at the Command Officers’ Mess, Asokoro, Abuja.
In attendance were the Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Saad Ibrahim; Chiefs Army, Navy, Air Force, Lt Gen Azubuike Ihejirika, Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba and Air Vice Marshal Bade respectively as well as the IGP.
President Jonathan had gone the Command Officers’ Mess to preside over the decoration of the newly promoted 48 officers in the Army, Navy and Air Force to the rank of Major Generals but had to engage the Service Chiefs and the IGP in a meeting before the event.
In a statement, the Director of Defence Information, Brig General Chris Olukolade, the attack was repelled but won’t speak about casualties on both sides.
Speaking, the President said, “It is a very challenging moment. I remember when I came in, I had a meeting with the Service Chiefs and Inspector General of a Police because what happened in Bama. It is a very challenging period in this country and we expected, as we say that to those who more is given, more is expected.
“For those of you who have been so decorated as full two-star Generals, we expect that you will bring your experience to bear. We must work together as a team to make sure that the armed forces are able to protect lives and property of Nigerians. If we cannot do that, the reputation of the country will continue to go down.
“A number of issues are being raised in the media; there is so much of challenge in the Armed Forces and other security agencies in the country. All of us collectively must stand up for our own responsibilities and go the extra mile to see that as a nation, we overcome these challenges”.
Brig Gen Olukolade, said the terrorists came from cells located across Nigerian Border with Cameroun through Banki town.
“High caliber weapons such as anti-aircraft and rocket propelled guns were freely used in the attack that lasted several hours.
“Ground troops backed by the Air Force have repelled the attack and are in pursuit of the insurgents. Details of casualties recorded in the incident will be released when the ongoing cordon and search operations in the general area is concluded”.
He however assured the public that reinforcement has been dispatched to enhance the operation in pursuit of the terrorists. He said “Normalcy is being been restored in the barracks and the surrounding,” he said.
