21st July, 2014
The Federal Government has directed states, especially in the Southern part of the country to stop any planned registration of Northerners.
Ita Ekpeyong, Director General of State Security Services who revealed this after a meeting of National Security Council on Monday also told journalists that the Federal Government has directed all the security agencies not to take part in the deportation of Nigerians from one part of the country to the other.
Ekpeyong said the meeting discussed the issue of registration and deportation as well as recent reactions to it by some groups in Kano State and other parts of the country. He added that it was agreed at the meeting that fallout of the issue could be more dangerous for the country than the threat posed by Boko Haram insurgency.
“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,” the SSS DG said President Jonathan asked him to brief journalists on the outcome of the meeting of the NSC because of the importance he attached to the issue.
“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.
Ekpeyong added that in appreciation of the seriousness of the issue, the Council of State meeting will be held anytime next week to discuss it.
On the still missing Chibok girls, Ekpeyong who briefed journalists in company of Mohammed Abubakar, the Inspector General of Police asked Nigerians “to go to bed” over the issue as he reiterated the fact that government and the security agencies are aware of where the students are being kept.
The Chief of Defence Staff has also said government is aware of the location of the girls on at least two occasions.
“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.
The DG of SSS also said the security agencies also said government was winning the war against Boko Haram.
But he added that when that when one attack is successful, Nigerians will not remember the ones that have been prevented.
“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,” said Ekpeyong.