President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday held an emergency meeting with service chiefs, heads of other security services and some Ministers at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The meeting, which is coming amidst renewed terrorist activities, including Tuesday night’s attack on the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje, in Abuja, is believed to be reviewing recent developments.
The Kuje Custodial Centre was attacked by terrorists who freed more than 600 inmates, including Boko Haram elements.
The Islamic State in West African Province (ISWAP), on Thursday, claimed responsibility for the attack on the Custodial Centre.
The meeting is being attended by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Secretary to the Government of the Federation; Boss Mustapha; Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Monguno (retd).
Also present are Ministers of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Police Affairs, Maigari Dingyadi; Defense, Maj. Gen. Bashir Magashi (rtd.); and Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.
Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Farouk Yahaya; and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Oladayo Amao are also in attendance.
Also in attendance are the Inspector-General of Police, Alkali Baba Usman; the Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS), Yusuf Bichi; and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai Abubakar.
Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo; is being represented at the meeting.
But the names of Hamisu Wadume, the notorious kidnap kingpin from Taraba and Boko Haram Commander, Al Barnawi were not in the list. The NCoS authorities were silent on them.
Wadume was being detained in connection with the killing of three members of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in a special operation led by embattled Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Abba Kyari.
The list which carries the names and photographs of the wanted terrorists and other inmates was the first to be issued by the Service through the office of the Public Relations Officer, Umar Abubakar.