President Muhammadu Buhari claims he has degraded the potency of bandits and IPOB militants despite wanton killings and kidnapping continuing across Nigeria.

According to Mr Buhari, Boko Haram, the Indigenous People of Biafra, Eastern Security Network and bandits that posed a potent threat to the country, have been significantly degraded.

“I must specially commend the efforts and resilience of members of the Nigeria Police Force and sister agencies for the giant strides recorded so far in the fight against the prevailing security challenges,” said Mr Buhari during the passing-out parade of the regular course 4/2016 cadets of the Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil, Kano, according to a statement by his media aide Garba Shehu.

The president said further, “Across the North-Central and North-West of the country, we have made progress with regards to stemming the tide of communal violence, farmer-herdsmen clashes, cattle rustling, and kidnapping.”

He promised to take care of the police officers’ welfare as they continue to fight criminals nationwide.

“As I said earlier, with the take-off of the Police Trust Fund, there has been an upgrade of infrastructure such as the construction of new barracks across the country, renovation of existing ones, construction of medical facilities, as well as procurement of modern operational vehicles,” Mr Buhari told the cops.

The president vowed that he would “continue to demonstrate zero tolerance for crime and criminality,” as bandits and other criminal elements continue to launch violent attacks against innocent citizens.

“Those who take laws into their hands, who bear arms illegally and who seek to profit from a climate of fear and insecurity will be decisively dealt with,” the president noted. “That remains our promise to the people of Nigeria, who elected us to keep them safe and secured: the peace and stability of our dear country will continue to be of utmost importance.”

Mr Buhari also mentioned that the police, notorious for brutality and extortion, “are our pointsmen and you must rise to the occasion.”

According to the president, security transcends law enforcement but includes building the right relationships that underpin the development of secure societies.

“This is why the present administration has been fully committed from the start to strengthening existing relations between Nigeria and her neighbouring countries,” he told the cadets.

He added, “It has always been clear to us that there is no way we can achieve the security we seek without the cooperation and support of our neighbours. And we have implemented at home the most far reaching social support programme ever in the country to tackle poverty at the roots: one of the drivers of insecurity.”

He urged the cadets to take their place in the “Nigeria Police Force that is destined and determined to take its place amongst the most efficient security organisations in the world.”

(NAN)