Buhari: “I Inherited A Country at a Crossroads With Bombs Detonating in Cities.”
President Muhammadu Buhari said on Thursday he had been able to successfully manage insecurity in Nigeria since coming into office in 2015.
This was as he claimed that he inherited a nation at a crossroads with bombs going off in Nigerian cities, seven years ago he assumed office.
He spoke at the passing-out parade and commissioning ceremony for cadets of Regular Course 69 of the Nigerian Defence Academy on Thursday in Afaka, Kaduna State.
“When this government came in 2015, we inherited a country at crossroads with bombs going off with frightening frequency even in our cities and we came in to manage the crisis,” he said.
239 cadets in all, including those from sister African nations Uganda, Liberia, Sierra Leone, the Niger Republic, and Chad, are graduating from the Academy as enlisted soldiers.
The President gave the cadets a challenge to emulate the spirit of social cohesiveness they gained at the NDA and serve as unimpeachable role models for society, adding that they were born at a time of growing challenges to international security.
The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to putting an end to Boko Haram terrorism in the North-East.
He admitted that the country’s security difficulties have changed and taken on new dimensions in some instances, stressing that his government has been using both military and non-military tactics, such as granting amnesty to terrorists who have changed their minds, to combat the crisis.
The President took advantage of the opportunity to thank the military for rescuing the final 23 passengers of the attacked Kaduna-Abuja train on March 28, 2022.
He said, “Let me also commend our military for both kinetic and non-kinetic methods they adopt in tackling some of our security challenges.
“Just yesterday (Wednesday), relief came for our country as the remaining 23 victims of the March 28 Abuja-Kaduna train attack were released by the heinous terrorists. This feat was not achieved without the intervention of our military.
“I say bravo to our soldiers, officers and gentlemen.”
The dignitaries present at the NDA parade include all the service chiefs and the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali; Senate President Ahmed Lawan; the governors of Niger and Kaduna states, as well as National Assembly members.