TheCable

President Muhammadu Buhari has warned service chiefs to guide against attacks on schools, saying he will not condone lapses.

The president gave this warning on Friday while receiving the freed 104 Dapchi school girls and two primary school pupils at the presidential villa in Abuja.

He said his administration is determined to fight insurgency.

“Let me reemphasise our administration’s commitment to the fight against terrorism and insurgency, and also call on all Nigerians, to join in this task,” he said.

“The security services have since been directed to put in place further measures around all schools vulnerable to attacks to ensure the safety of our pupils/students and teachers and school workers.

“Security chiefs have been warned in clear terms that any lapse on their parts will be viewed seriously.”

Buhari said Boko Haram insurgents released the Dapchi schoolgirls unconditionally following “painstaking backchannel” negotiations.

He said government opted for negotiations because it did not want any of the captives to be hurt.

Fatimah Bashir, 14, speaking on behalf of the freed girls, thanked the president for rescuing them alive.

This is the first time that Buhari would give a stern warning to the service chiefs over insurgency.