…Directs security chiefs to bring back all kidnapped Nigerians, wipe out terrorist, bandit camps
By Abu Adamu
President Bola Tinubu has ordered the Armed Forces and other security agencies to maintain strict neutrality in the 2027 general elections and ensure a secure environment for Nigerians to freely elect candidates of their choice without fear, intimidation, or interference.
The President gave the directive on Thursday during an extensive closed-door meeting with the nation’s security chiefs at the State House, Abuja, where he also ordered intensified operations to rescue all Nigerians still in captivity and dismantle terrorist and bandit camps across the country.
Minister of Defence, retired Gen. Christopher Musa, who disclosed details of the meeting afterwards, said Tinubu made it clear that he wanted the January 2027 elections to be free, fair, and credible, with security agencies providing a level playing field for all political parties.
Musa said the President specifically charged the security leadership to create an atmosphere in which Nigerians would have the confidence to come out and vote without intimidation.
“You can see all heads of security agencies are here. We had an intensive discussion, and Mr President made it very clear he wants a free, fair, and credible election,” Musa said.
“We must do everything possible to ensure that the country is safe and secure for the citizens to go out and vote.”
The Defence Minister said the security agencies were committed to the President’s directive and assured Nigerians that personnel deployed for the elections would act professionally and impartially.
He particularly sought to reassure opposition political parties that the military and other security agencies would neither take sides nor be deployed to intimidate their candidates or supporters.
“All other political parties should understand that the security forces are going to be neutral,” Musa said.
According to him, all parties would be given the opportunity to participate freely in the democratic process and should have “nothing to worry about, nothing to be afraid of.”
“Nobody is going to intimidate them for whatever reasons. We are all professionals. We are fully committed,” he added.
Beyond the elections, Tinubu handed the security chiefs what amounted to a fresh marching order on terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping, directing them to locate and rescue Nigerians being held captive anywhere in the country.
“The directive from the President is: all of us must go all out to fish out and rescue all those that have been abducted, kidnapped, wherever they are,” Musa said.
The President also directed that security forces deny terrorists and bandits operational sanctuaries anywhere within Nigerian territory.
“There shouldn’t be any camp of any terrorist or bandits anywhere in Nigeria,” the minister said, assuring Nigerians that the Armed Forces and other security agencies were working jointly to implement the directive.
Musa said the administration was backing the tougher security push with increased recruitment, training, and acquisition of new equipment.
He disclosed that Tinubu would soon commission a new fleet of aircraft and helicopters acquired to strengthen the operational capabilities of the Armed Forces.
“Very soon, Mr President is coming to commission a set of new aircraft and helicopters that have been bought. I think almost about 10 of them in number,” he said.
According to the minister, the acquisitions demonstrate that despite prevailing economic challenges, national security remains a major priority of the administration.
He also pointed to the recent salary increase for members of the Armed Forces, saying the welfare of police officers, personnel of other security agencies, and pensioners was receiving attention.
Musa, meanwhile, dismissed suggestions that the Nigerian Armed Forces were recruiting underage children, insisting that the military remained a professional institution.
He said reports concerning the involvement of minors related instead to the use of children by terrorist groups, stressing that the development reinforced the need to deny the insurgents territory and operational bases.
The Defence Minister also appealed for greater public cooperation with security agencies, arguing that defeating terrorism, banditry, and other forms of criminality required citizens to provide useful intelligence.
“Security is everybody’s responsibility. It’s not only for members of security forces. Everyone has a role to play,” he said.
He urged Nigerians to report suspicious activities as well as misconduct by security personnel, assuring them that action would be taken against officers found to have acted improperly.
Thursday’s high-level security meeting brought together the leadership of the country’s military, intelligence, and law-enforcement institutions as preparations intensify for the 2027 elections.
Among those at the meeting were National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu; Minister of Police Affairs Ibrahim Gaidam; Minister of State for Defence Bello Matawalle; Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Olufemi Oluyede; Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu; Chief of Naval Staff Vice Adm. Idi Abbas; and Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Sunday Aneke.
Also present were Chief of Defence Intelligence Lt.-Gen. Emmanuel Undiandeye; Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu; Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Amb. Mohammed Mohammed; and Director-General of the Department of State Services, Adeola Ajayi.
The presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections are slated for February 6.
Tinubu’s directive effectively places two immediate responsibilities before the nation’s security establishment: to protect the neutrality and credibility of the electoral process, while intensifying the campaign to rescue abducted Nigerians and eliminate terrorist and bandit sanctuaries across the country.
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