By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Minister of Defence, Dr Abubakar Badaru, has said that President Bola Tinubu is determined to end all forms of insecurity in the South-East and across the country.

Badaru said this on Thursday in Enugu while addressing heads of security agencies and security stakeholders within the South-East and Cross River State.

He noted that the Tinubu-led administration had done "tremendously well in the past one year to fight insecurity throughout the country especially in the South-East and the Cross River State axis.?

?There is a renewed determination to do more in the fight against all forms of insecurity by President Tinubu,? he said.

According to him, ?it is common knowledge that we have recorded successes in the past one year, but President Tinubu is determined to do more with your cooperation and active involvement.?

He said: ?President Tinubu has directed me to come and engage with you to find a lasting solution to insecurity.

?Without security, there would be no peace and development. I know that people of this zone are predominantly businessmen and women that needed security and peace for their businesses to flourish.

?We need to get candid suggestions and information on how we will practically do more and enthrone lasting security and peace in the South-East and Cross River State axis of the country.

?If insecurity persists, it should be known that it is our people whose lives and property that are being threatened and destroyed; it is our people that are kidnapped and organs harvested as well.?

The minister said that the Federal Government and security agencies needed the cooperation of all residents especially the leaders as it involves getting actionable intelligence to stem insecurity from its roots in the zone.

He appreciated heads of security agencies and leaders of the zone and Cross River State that made the sacrifice to attend the engagement; adding: ?President Tinubu is appreciative of all your efforts so far and he needs more.?

After the engagement, the minister said that the stakeholders had a robust and spirited interaction which is fruitful and implementable to improve the general security of the zone.

"There was robust suggestion on how to deploy technology to tackle insecurity head-on and restore the people's confidence and safety in the area," he said.

Speaking, Maj.-Gen. John Nwoga (retired) said that the insecurity in the zone was heightened by activities of social media bloggers, who keep on repeating old videos of gruesome criminal activities to create fear and panic for reasons best known to them.

?There is a need for our people to collectively deal with negative press, fake news and misleading videos being circulated within the zone through social media,? Nwoga said.

In his remark, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Hassan Dada, said that the Nigerian Army was putting in place robust strategy to ensure a safe and seamless yuletide.

?Through the Joint Security Task-Force in South-East, code-named 'Operation UDO KA', we are going to create a safe and secured environment to enable the usual mass return for Christmas once more this year; even as we have improved security generally,? Dada said.

Earlier, the minister visited and held closed-door meeting with the GOC, Maj.-Gen. Hassan Dada, and Commanders, Principal Officers and Officers at the Division?s Headquarters, Enugu.

Abubakar also visited and held closed-door meeting with the Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Ground Training Command (GTC) of the Nigerian Air Force, AVM Usman Abdullahi, and Commanders, Principal Officers and Officers at GTC Command Headquarters, Enugu.

The highlights of the engagement included the minister signing of visitors? books at the Division and GTC Headquarters, presentation of a memorable plaque and a group photograph.

Apart from head of security agencies in South-East and Cross River State; traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth leaders, women organisations, retired police and military personnel as well as civil society organisations attended the security engagement.

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