Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, says previous government did not take the issue of insecurity seriously.
Matawalle stated this while appearing before the Senate Committee on Defence in company with the Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru.
He disclosed that the ministry just took delivery of new attack helicopters to boost the fight against insecurity in the country.
The Minister of Defence told the committee that there is synergy among the service chiefs in the fight against insecurity in the country.
Matawalle, while speaking before the Committee on Defence, said insecurity needs collective attention from state, local and federal governments.
He said, “As a former Governor of Zamfara State, I know what I have gone through on the issue of insecurity, particularly banditry which is new to us in the North West.
“The issue of Boko Haram is not new in the North East and our system, but because of what has transpired in previous government, the issue was not taken seriously to tackle.
“Today actions are being made and operations taken on such criminals. The issue of security needs collective cooperation from state, local governments and Federal Government for Nigerians.
“We need key legislations on insecurity. It is gradually going down, we just received two attack helicopters to strengthen the battle against insecurity.”