#EndSARS Protests Won’t Happen Again – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians that he will do whatever it takes to ensure that a repeat of #EndSARS protest does not occur in Nigeria again.

President Buhari gave the assurance on Tuesday at the quarterly meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The Minister of Police Affairs, Muhammad Dingyadi, who briefed State House reporters after the meeting, said the President also reassured that all stakeholders would be involved in the process of maintaining peace in the country, particularly the youth, community leaders, traditional rulers, politicians, public servants, and religious leaders among others.

Asked whether it would include a crackdown on potential protesters, the minister replied: “On the issue of #EndSARS that you have raised, what we are saying is that government will continue to dialogue, it will continue to listen and will continue to carry all stakeholders along in ensuring that there is no repeat of what happened that destroyed a lot of properties, public and private, individuals in this country.”

Dingyadi said the Federal Government would continue to maintain its bureaucratic, humane and just postures in handling security matters in the country.

Banditry

The minister said the NSC meeting convened to brief the President about security situation noted with concern the increasing cases of armed banditry particularly in the northwest and northeastern part of the country.

He said the meeting agreed to be more proactive in dealing with the situation in a more decisive manner, adding that the meeting noted the need to pay greater attention to the police in the discharge of its functions to maintain peace in the country and in the areas of equipment and modern technology.

“The meeting thanked the president for the concern which he has shown in repositioning the police to perform more effectively.

“Mr President thanked members for the efforts they are making in maintains peace and assured members that he will do whatever it takes to support security agencies in providing peace in the country,” he added.

When asked about how soon Nigerians should expect the difference in improved security in the affected areas and what kind of decisive action to look out for, Dingyadi said: “Let me say that in whatever one does, you must have a timeline, you must have your targets and you must work towards achieving those targets. We have our timelines, we have our targets and we are working towards achieving those targets.

“On decisive action means, it’s an all-inclusive action that is going to be taken to ensure that in terms of technology and equipment we can face these challenges head on.”