TheCable

The director-general of the State Security Service (SSS), Mr. Ita Ekpeyong, has asked Nigerians “to go to bed” over the schoolgirls kidnapped in Chibok, Borno State, three months ago because their whereabouts are known to the government.

Addressing the media after the National Security Council meeting on Monday, he said: “Government is making efforts. We know where they are but we don’t want to endanger their lives. That is the truth. We want to take it ‎gradually and release them at the appropriate time. We know where they are. You can go to bed with that.”

Chief of defence staff, Air Marshall Alex Barde, made a similar statement in May while addressing some campaigners.

Ekpeyong also said government was winning the war against Boko Haram, suggesting that when one attack is successful, the ones that were prevented will not be remembered.

“We keep saying that the fight against Boko Haram is like in football. You know, when the Germans played Argentina (World Cup final), it was only that one goal the Germans scored that everyone is remembering. Nobody will remember the other goals that were stopped.

“There are several things government is doing, there are several attacks government has stopped but nobody will remember those ones because we don’t tell you but several things are going on.”

He said the security meeting had directed that the registration of northerners by some southern states be stopped.

Ekpeyong told the media: “Council discussed in detail the issue of registration of Nigerians in any part of the country… being subjected to registration, being subjected to deportation, being taken away from one part of the country to the other.

“Council discussed the reaction by some groups in Kano State and other parts of the country.

“Council observed that this threat was more potent than Boko Haram and could disintegrate the country. And we take this very seriously, for people to deport people, for people to ‎take people from one place to the other, for registration of indigenes no matter where they are. No matter where they are, they are free to settle anywhere they like.

“Council resolved that the issue of registration of Nigerians anywhere in the country and deportation should stop forthwith. To re-emphasis the importance the president has attached to this, that is why he asked the IG and I to address the press. This must stop forthwith.

“Security operatives ‎should not be involved in anybody trying to register people and anybody trying to deport people. Security operatives must henceforth not be involved if police, SSS is found to be involved it will be severely dealt it.

“Also youth groups trying to foment trouble because of this issue are hereby warned to desist from it because government is taking serious notice of it. Government is doing everything possible to stem this from getting out of control. As a matter of fact, to show the urgency, the Council of State meeting will be held anytime next week to discuss these issues.”