President Muhammadu Buhari says he is overwhelmed by the security situation in the northwest region. 

Buhari spoke on Thursday at the palace of Sa’ad Abubakar, Sultan of Sokoto.

The president said while the situation in the northeast and southsouth has improved compared to when he assumed office, the challenges in the northwest are a different matter.

Buhari, however, said he has charged the military and other security agencies not to spare any criminal posing a threat to the peace and safety of Nigerians.

“Every day, we are worried about what is happening in the northwest. When we came, if Nigerians are to be fair to us, they know the condition in the northeast and the southsouth, but what is happening now in the northwest is what has honestly overwhelmed me,” Buhari said.

“The same people, the same culture, killing each other, stealing each other’s property. We are going to do our best and the military and law enforcement agencies have been given a clear order that they shouldn’t spare any bandit or terrorist.

“We are going to hand over a secure country better than we inherited it.”

The president, who also commiserated with the state over the recent bandit attacks, said “Nigeria shall win the battle over evil”.

The Cable