Osinbajo orders security agencies to rescue kidnapped oil workers, others
* Commends military, NNPC, UNIMAID
*Condoles with families of victims
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has ordered the security agencies to rescue kidnapped oil workers and lecturers of the University of Maiduguri who were abducted by the members of Boko Haram.
Osinbajo also condemned the appalling ambush, attack and abduction of soldiers, and civilians who were carrying out their duties to the nation in the Lake Chad Basin Frontier Exploration, saying that government would defined an end to the terrorists attacks in the country.
According to the acting president, the objective of the exercise is to open up new areas for oil exploration for the common good of all Nigerians.
The Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity to the Acting President, Laolu Akande, stated this in a statement made available on Sunday.
He added that the terrorist attack resulted in a number of deaths of hardworking and innocent Nigerians, and the abduction of some.
Commending the military for the progress already recorded with the rescue of some of the abducted, Osinbajo also ordered the continuation of search and rescue missions to locate and ensure the freedom of all remaining abducted persons as soon as possible, using all available and expedient means in the circumstances.
He added that justice would be pursued for the victims and against those who engage in this kind of unacceptable, criminal and terrorist conduct.
The acting president also condoled with the families, relatives and associates of those who lost their lives in the despicable onslaught and wished the injured speedy recovery.
The Daily Times recalls that the Acting President had after an emergency meeting with the Military chiefs on Thursday, issued fresh directives to the Nigerian military and all security agencies to immediately scale-up their efforts and activities in Borno State in order to maintain a strong, effective control of the situation and secure lives and property.
Although, pockets of terrorists have been launching attacks recently in Borno State, the Acting President assurd the people of the State, the region and indeed all Nigerians, that the federal government was not only on top of the situation, but would define the end of these atrocities by both winning the war and winning the peace in the North-east.
Osinbajo further paid tributes to the resilience, courage and bravery of officers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces for their gallant endeavours and sacrifices for the peace, security and territorial integrity of our country.
He eulogised the Nigerian soldiers who have paid the ultimate price in this mission and others linked to the current insurgency, and gives a firm assurance that the welfare of the families of the soldiers will be prioritized.
He also commended the diligence of the management and staff of the NNPC, and the lecturers/consultants from the University of Maiduguri in pursuing Federal Government’s resolve to grow our country’s current crude oil reserve base through potential exploration in the Lake Chad Basin, stressing that the government will by no means be dissuaded.
He said : “Some of these extraordinarily selfless Nigerians from the NNPC and the University Of Maiduguri put their lives on the line that we and generations to come will enjoy the resources of this land. We will never forget that sacrifice.”