President Muhammadu Buhari has
reassured Nigerians that withdrawal of the military from troubled spots will
not be done in a manner that will expose communities to more risks of attacks.
Garba Shehu, senior special assistant
to the president on media and publicity, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja
on Friday.
He said the president gave the
assurance while reacting to concerns and appeals from governors and community
leaders over the proposed withdrawal of the military from the affected
communities.
According to him, the withdrawals
will be gradual and carefully planned, not abrupt or arbitrary to jeopardise
the success already recorded by the military.
He urged Nigerians, especially
public affairs analysts, to carefully study the statement following a security
council meeting with service chiefs that the withdrawal of troops will be done
after an “assessment” to determine areas where peace had returned to enable
civil authorities assume full control.
“You don’t need to worry. We will
not expose our people and their communities to harm or danger. The withdrawal
is to allow the military focus on its primary duty of defending the nation
against external aggression. It is the duty of the police to handle internal
security since Nigeria is not at war,” Shehu quoted Buhari to have said.
“The Nigeria Security and Civil
Defence Corps will support the police to provide internal security. When it is
time to withdraw, nothing will be rushed.”
