PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari is currently presiding over a meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) at the State House, Abuja.
The meeting comes days after the deadly attack at St Francis Catholic Church in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State.
Reports say over 30 worshippers, including children, were shot dead by suspected terrorists who opened fire on parishioners during their Sunday mass.
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The attack on worshippers at Owo is the latest in a series of terrorist attacks on defenceless civilians across the country.
Government officials attending the security council meeting include Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation Boss Mustapha, Chief of Staff to the President Ibrahim Gambari and National Security Adviser Babagana Monguno.
Others include the Chief of Defence Staff Lucky Irabor, Chief of Army Staff Farouk Yahaya, Chief of Naval Staff Awwal Gambo and Chief of Air Staff Isiaka Oladayo Amao,
Inspector-General of Police Alkali Baba Usman, Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS) Yusuf Bichi and Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Ahmed Rufai Abubakar are also in attendance.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff, Faruk Yahaya, on Wednesday in Port- Harcourt, Rivers State, said the political landscape is likely to get more tense across the six geopolitical zones as the country approaches the 2023 general elections.
Yahaya spoke at a three-day second senior command and leadership seminar for commanders of various formations across the country.
The seminar had the theme ‘Building the Capacity of Nigerian Army to Meet Contemporary Security Challenges in a Joint Environment: The Role of Senior Leadership’.
The COAS warned troops to avoid politics and focus on their mandate of providing security.
He said no personnel would be allowed to participate in the elections or support any candidate as stipulated by the extant laws guarding the service.
“So, I want to remind all commanders that as the electioneering season approaches, the political landscape is likely to become more tense across the geopolitical zones.
“Engagement of political thugs, use of hate speeches and other inimical activities by desperate politicians and their supporters will likely instigate a more fragile security situation in the coming days.
“I charge commanders at all levels to ensure that troops under command are adequately enlightened on the need to be apolitical and eschew all political vices.
“To this end, all army personnel must act within the ambit of the law; the provisions of the extant rule of engagement and code of conduct for the elections in 2023,” he warned.
A reporter with the ICIR
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