Buhari raises the alarm over ritual killings, deadly attacks on innocent security agents across the country

Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari has raised the alarm over alarming cases of ritual killings and incessant attacks on innocent citizens in different parts of the country.

President Buhari’s concerns followed the latest incidents reported in Enugu, Imo, Abia, Zamfara and Ogun States.

According to a statement by the president’s media aide, Malam Garba Shehu, Buhari frowned at the incidents of ritual killings, hate crimes and killing of law enforcement officers and expressed sympathy to families of the victims, saying these were aberrations.

The President in a week of special security concern, condemned the rise in ritual killings and deadly attacks against on-duty policemen and ethnic minorities.

He urged law enforcement agencies, state governments, local authorities, community and religious leaders to take all lawful actions to prevent further occurrence of such incidents.

He also charged the security agencies to put in place measures against such primitive acts including hate crimes and acts of terror.

Before departing for Brussels on Feb. 15, the president had hosted Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo State. During the visit, Governor Uzodinma had briefed the president on socio-economic developments and security situation in his state.

The governor informed the president of the electricity potential in Nworie River in the state, and the Nigerian leader had also given the approval for the commencement of conceptual designs for the power generating project.

‘“The president welcomed the idea of using the Nworie River in Imo State to generate and boost electricity supply in the state,” he said.

Also on Feb. 15, the president also met behind closed door with Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi.

Bello noted that Kogi had been enjoying relative peace and stability in recent times due to new security measures introduced in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo also presided over the virtual meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Feb. 16.

The Council approved the National Policy on the Government, Second Level Domain, aimed at safeguarding official communications using government top-level domain of “dot government dot ng’’.

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami, disclosed this when he addressed State House correspondents on the outcome of the meeting.

Pantami said with the approval of the policy, government officials must now migrate from using generic domain in their websites and their emails to the second level domain under the government top-level domain.

According to him, the use of private email like, yahoo.com; hotmail.com or gmail.com for official communications by government officials will no longer be tolerated.

The Council also approved 2.8 million dollars for the procurement of rolling stocks operational maintenance equipment for Ibadan to Kano standard gauge and Port Harcourt to Maiduguri narrow gauge railway projects.
The rolling stocks are consumables meant for the maintenance and operation of the railway.

The president, who returned to Abuja after attending the sixth Europe-Africa Summit in Brussels, Belgium, on Saturday, departed the country on Feb. 16, to join other African and European leaders to discuss issues of mutual concerns to both continents.

These included; Financing for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth; Climate Change and Energy Transition, Digital and Transport (Connectivity and Infrastructure); Peace, Security and Governance; and Private Sector Support and Economic Integration.

While in Brussels, the President apart from actively participating in the sixth EU-AU Summit, held various bilateral meetings with world leaders including the Presidents of Algeria, South Africa, and the Prime Minister of Ethiopia under the auspices of the “G4”.