President Goodluck Jonathan has reiterated that his administration was determined to stamp out the wave of criminality undermining socio-economic development in the country.
President Jonathan disclosed this at the candle light procession in honour of the 10 officers and men of the State Security Service, SSS, killed in Nasarawa State on May 7, 2013, at its headquarters in Abuja.
The president, who was represented by his chief of staff, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, described the incident that led to the death of the young service men as unfortunate.
He observed that they were aware of the wave of crime that has bedevilled the country in the last couple of years, adding that it would not deter them from ensuring that crime is brought under control.
President Jonathan stressed that the service had been a great source of encouragement and pride to government and Nigerians, urging them not to be deterred by the setback.
“Let me appreciate the Directorate of State Service, you have been most wonderful; you have been a great source of encouragement and pride to government and to Nigerians. You have done so well and you have been doing so well. Don’t be deterred by this setback. It is a setback not only to the service, but to the entire country.
“We believe that in a matter of time, the insecurity situation in the country will be over and we are determined to stamp out it by all means,” Jonathan assured.
In his remarks, the senate leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba said the National Assembly appreciated the very extreme sacrifice the service makes for the rest of Nigerians to be safe.
Ndoma-Egba pointed out that the death of the 10 gallant officers was a confirmation of the supreme sacrifice they make day and night to protect the rest of us.
The Senate leader said the NASS shared and grieved with the service and the deceased families at this difficult and challenging time, and assured that the NASS would stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the service and other security agencies in the task of ensuring that the country and its citizens are safe.
Ndoma-Egba promised that they would continue to ensure that all the security outfits have the resources and wherewithal they need in carrying out their constitutional responsibilities.
The National Security Adviser, NSA, Sambo Dasuki emphasised that the federal government would give the service and other security agencies all the support they need to excel.
Dasuki noted that they were aware that the country is up against terrorist group who are bent on destabilising the country.
In his words of encouragement, Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Sahad Ibrahim said the service represents the national security architecture of the country and described it as the invincible hands that make their job easy.
The Chief of Defence Staff said Nigeria, like any other countries of the world, had its fare share of security challenges and described the 10 deceased service men as the finest ideals of patriotism, commitment and gallantry.
The pioneer director-general of SSS, General Abdullahi Mohammed said in the history of the service, they have not had such a number of casualties.
General Abdullahi expressed disappointment on the attitude of some human rights organisations that are fond of keeping quiet when security operatives are killed, but raise alarm when a terrorist is at the receiving end.
“We the past directors-general share this sorrow with you. You know that since the inception of this service, I don’t think we have had a tragedy such as this. This is very touching. I want to talk about three things: the sorrow, the anger and the hope. The sorrow, I have talked about.
“The anger is that if a soldier is killed in these operations, it is just a number. If a policeman is killed, it is just a number. If a member of the service is killed, it is just a number. But if any of the terrorist is killed, then you have all these human rights people coming up as if these other people have no family or rights,” he stressed.
The former director-general called on members of National Assembly to encourage the services to protect Nigerians.
He lamented why the Ombatse chief priest has not been apprehended and the shrine destroyed.
According to him, “All these frivolous accusations must be ignored completely. I was watching the television recently and I saw a man who caused the death of these gallant men saying his god killed them. I wonder why that man is still free and talking. I wonder why the shrine where these men were killed has not been levelled.”
Earlier in his address of welcome, the director-general of SSS, Mr. Ita Ekpeyong said on May 7, 2013, 10 dedicated and committed young officers and men of the service were sent on an operation aimed at fulfilling its sacred mandate of protection and preservation of the nation.
Ekpeyong lamented that the security crises that engulfed Nasarawa State between April 20, 2013 and May 2, 2013 eventually resulted in the death of the service men.
The director-general maintained that the death of the 10 gallant officers and men had not only inspired and challenged them, but also had motivated and strengthened them to remain resolute, determined and focused.
The candle light procession was attended by Minister of State, FCT; former directors-general of the service; director-general of the National Intelligence Agency, NIA; FRSC corps marshal and NSCDC commandant-general.
Others are: the Nasarawa State deputy governor; director of the Institute of Security Studies, ISS; chairman of AIT; parents and relations of the deceased service men.
It would be recalled that on May 7, 2013, 10 officers and men of the service, along with many policemen, were brutally killed by the Ombatse cult at Eggon, Nasarawa State, during an official assignment.