ABUJA (SundiataPost) – President Goodluck Jonathan and service chiefs were locked in a closed door meeting for close to two and half hours over the security challenges in the country.
The latest on the negotiations with terrorist sect, Boko Haram on the released of abducted Chibok girls was on the agenda.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, told State House correspondents on Tuesday that the National Security Council was briefed on the ceased fire agreement with Boko Haram, and that negotiation was still ongoing with the sect.
Asked when the Chibok girls would be released, he said, “let’s keep our fingers crossed”.
The meeting which started at 4 p.m. and ended shortly before 6.30 p.m.
Those in attendance were the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki; Minister of Defence Mohammed Gwazo; the Minister of Interior, Abba Moro; Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh; Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Olusola Amosun; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin; Director-General, State Security Service (SSS), Ita Ekpeyong, among others.
Earlier, Badeh had declined to take questions from State House correspondents when approached, saying he has stopped talking to the press because “the media is now attacking personalities and not issues”.
He made reference to a picture of himself under an umbrella that went viral, saying they (security chiefs) were being compared with President Barack Obama of United States of America, who carried his umbrella himself without any assistance.
The Federal Government had two weeks back announced that it has entered into ceased fire agreement with the sect on the release of the Chibok girls, six months after their abductions.
Abductions have continued despite the ceased fire agreement with the latest being the abduction of 30 young men and women and killing of at least 17 in Maiduguri on Sunday.