National Security council declares NATFORCE illegal, orders immediate disbandment

The National Security Council has declared illegal, National Task Force on the Prohibition of Illegal Importation/Smuggling of Arms, Ammunition, Light Weapons, Chemical and Pipeline Vandalism (NATFORCE) and ordered its immediate disbandment.

The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, disclosed this after Thursday’s National Security Council meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, at the State House, Abuja.

The Senate had in July passed a bill establishing the National Commission for the Coordination and Control of the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons which included the NATFORCE.

The Senate passage of NATFORCE bill came a year after the National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno (retd.), declared the security outfit illegal and ordered a halt of all its operations nationwide.

Read Also: Insecurity: 75 secondary schools remain shut in Zamfara – Official

Aregbesola who said the council received reports from all service chiefs and Inspector-General of Police, said it is “very satisfied” with the performance of all security agencies and that the country is moving to the phase of consolidated security.

He said the council also commended the police for its performance in Ekiti, Osun and Anambra states where governorship elections were conducted recently.

However, he expressed concern over the remaining passengers kidnapped in the March 28 attack on a Kaduna-bound train saying no effort will be spared to rescue them alive.

On his part, the  Minister of Police Affairs, said the arrest and detention of the main negotiator with terrorists, Tukur Mamu, does not mean contact will be lost with the abductors.

According to him, there are other negotiators the government can employ as go-betweens.