Criminals killing people in Borno, Katsina are taking advantage of COVID-19 restrictions – Buhari

President Buhari has said that criminals responsible for the killings and destruction of properties in Katsina state and Borno state are taking advantage of the restrictions to curb the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the states.

The President said in the nationwide speech he gave this morning to celebrate this year’s Democracy Day. He, however, gave an assurance that the security agencies have swung into action with a view to bringing the assailants to justice.

“I regret recent sporadic incidents with the tragic loss of lives in Katsina and Borno States as a result of criminals taking advantage of COVID-19 restrictions. Security Agencies will pursue the perpetrators and bring them to swift justice.

I must implore state and local governments to revamp their intelligence assets so that the Security Agencies can nip in the bud any planned attacks in remote rural areas. I send my heartfelt condolences to all the relatives and communities affected,” he said

According to the President, his administration has worked profitably to secure the lives and properties of Nigerians.  He said the military has considerably downgraded such threats across all geo-political zones. He also mentioned that the local governments that were taken over by the Boko Haram insurgents in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa State have long been recovered and the indigenes have all returned to their homes.

“The total collapse of the economies of these areas, which constituted a threat to our food security, has also been reversed with the gradual recovery of farming and other economic activities. As part of the strengthening of our internal security architecture, the Ministry of Police Affairs was created.

Amongst others, Government has expanded the National Command and Control Centre to 19 states of the Federation, resuscitated the National Public Security Communication System, and commenced the implementation of the Community Policing Strategy.” he said