President Muhammadu Buhari has saluted the nation gallant men and women of the military and other security agencies for recording “tremendous progress’’ in the ongoing battles against insurgents and bandits across the country.
The president stated this while addressing citizens during a nationwide broadcast as part of activities to mark the nation’s 61st Independence Anniversary in Abuja.
He attributed the successes being recorded by the security agencies to acquisition of sophistication weapons by the government, saying already thousands of Boko Haram insurgents in the North East zone had surrendered.
“In the last four months, the gallant men and women of the Military and Security Agencies have made tremendous progress in addressing these new security challenges.
“We are taking the fight to our enemies from all angles and we are winning.
“Earlier this year, I launched the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure, the Deep Blue Project, which is designed to secure Nigerian waters up to the Gulf of Guinea.
“I am happy to inform Nigerians that we have taken delivery of key assets for this project and very soon, its impact will be felt.
“In the North East region alone, over eight thousand Boko Haram terrorists have surrendered,’’.
The president revealed that the Nigerian Armed Forces had recruited over 17,000 personnel across all ranks to support the surge approach to fighting banditry.
He added that he also approved for the Nigerian Police Force to recruit 10,000 police officers annually over the next six years.
“I am also pleased to note that most of the Air Force platforms we acquired over the past three years have started to arrive in Nigeria.
“These will positively impact our security operations in all parts of the country,’’ he said.