Nigerian President, Top Officials Discuss Security

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday convened a top-level security meeting with the country's governors, security chiefs and two key religious leaders.



The meeting was attended by Deputy President Namadi Sambo, a number of governors, the chief of defense staff, the three military service chiefs and the commander of police.



At least 20 of Nigeria's 36 governors attended, while others were represented by their deputies.



The governors of Lagos, Osun, Kogi and Gombe states, however, neither attended Thursday's meeting nor sent deputies.



It was not immediately clear whether they planned to join the meeting – which is still in session – at a later time.



Abubakar Sa'ad, president of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and sultan of Sokoto, along with Christian Association President Ayo Oritsejafor, are also attending the high-level meeting, which is devoted to discussing the country's worsening security situation.



The security meeting had initially been slated for Wednesday, but was later pushed back to Thursday. No official reason was given for the delay.



Top on the meeting agenda, according to an official statement issued last week, is the ongoing Boko Haram insurgency in the country's north, a recent Abuja car bombing that killed 75 people, the abduction of scores of schoolchildren earlier this month, and festering ethnic clashes in Nigeria's north-central region.



By Rafiu Ajakaye



englishnews@aa.com.tr - Lagos