The National Security Council has directed that surveillance be stepped up and security risks on the Abuja-Kaduna route are completely eliminated.

The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, disclosed this after a Security Council meeting presided over by President Buhari at the State House in Abuja on Thursday.

The meeting which lasted more than four hours, according to Aregbesola, also discussed the resurgence of criminal activities along the Abuja-Kaduna Highway.

The highway has been a target for bandits, with gunmen abducting or killing travellers plying the route.

In the latest incident which occurred on Sunday, Sagir Hamida, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Zamfara governorship aspirant in the 2019 election, was killed when gunmen attacked travellers on the highway. More than 20 travellers were also reportedly abducted.

According to the Minister, the president has ordered increased patrol by security agencies on the highway.

He said strict and detailed instructions have been issued to security agencies to alter their operating procedures in order to eradicate all traces of lingering instability in the country.

“The president said that we are not yet where we should be; that Nigerians deserve to live in peace and that until we achieve that, we will not rest.

“The police and other security agencies have been mobilised to intensify surveillance, patrol in pursuit of the criminals. And it’s not only about Abuja-Kaduna. Yes, Abuja-Kaduna belt was discussed specifically, but we appreciated the fact that we are in the season of festivity.

“So, all agencies committed to providing security for Nigeria and the maintenance of law and order have been ordered to improve on their activities, intensify surveillance and minimise, if not eliminate totally, any threat to law and order anywhere in Nigeria.

“The police, as I said, is the lead agency on internal security. So, whatever I’ve said about maintenance of law and order will start with the police and then extend to all the other security agencies, certainly”, he said.

Aregbesola assured that with President Buhari’s renewed charge, further strategic measures would be implemented to enhance the present responsiveness to distress calls, and asked Nigerians to be prompt and accurate in making such calls.