President Muhammadu Buhari says more proactive and decisive measures are to be taken by the Federal Government to put to an end to the Boko Haram menace in the country once and for all.

President Buhari gave the assurance in Maiduguri where he paid a sympathy visit to victims of Monday’s attacks in Auno by insurgents.

Buhari, however, maintained that intelligence sharing and synergy between law enforcement agencies and the civil populace are critical towards achieving the objectives.

“I assure you that improvement in security will be pursued vigorously. The military will work harder and strategise with tactics to deal with the insurgents.

“This is however not possible without good intelligence and cooperation with local community leaders.

“Boko Haram cannot come up to Maiduguri or environs without the local leadership knowing because traditionally, the local leadership is in charge of security in their own respective areas.

“I want to call on the leadership at various levels to cooperate with law enforcement agencies and let us deny Boko Haram access to our loyal citizens.

“We will do our best and I hope history will be kind to us; to recall what was on the ground when we came and what will be on the ground when we leave,” he said.

President Buhari, who was at the palace of the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Gabai, accompanied by the state Governor, Babagana Zulum, sympathised with the monarch and other victims of the attack, and prayed for the repose of the soul of the victims.

In his remarks, Gov. Zulum thanked the President for identifying with the state in this trying times.

He praised the efforts of the military so far, wondering why some people would be comparing the security situation now with what obtained before the Buhari administration came on board.

He said: “Roads were closed, there were sporadic bombings everywhere even within the metropolis. Close to 20 local government areas were under Boko Haram.

“We are surprised that there seems to be resurgence in 2019.”

He challenged the military to borrow from their successes especially between 2015 and 2017, take the battle to the insurgents and push them to the fringes of Lake Chad.

The governor also urged the security agencies to be patient with the civilian populace and give opportunities to the Internally Displaced Persons to access their communities in order to return to their occupations.

President Buhari, who landed in Maiduguri from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he attended the 33th summit of the African Union, has since returned to Abuja.

Also, President Muhammadu Buhari has called on the people of Borno to cooperate with the military and other security agencies to facilitate successful implementation of the counter-insurgency campaign.

The President made the call when he paid a condolence visit to the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar El-Kanemi, in Maiduguri.

The insurgents had, on Sunday, attacked Auno community, killing dozens of stranded passengers, destroyed houses, vehicles and properties worth millions of Naira.

Buhari noted that the fight against insurgency could not be executed without good intelligence and support of the people.

Buhari reiterated his commitment to work with the security agencies to enhance security, protect lives and property in the country.

“We are working for you in this country; as Commander-in-Chief, I am dealing with the security institutions and I believe there is improvement in security.

“I urge the people of the state to cooperate with the law enforcement agencies; let us deny Boko Haram access to our loyal citizens and encourage displaced people to go back to their land,” he said.

The President noted that his visit to the state was to sympathise and show his respect to the governor and the people of the state.

Speaking on the economy of the nation, Buhari said that government had saved millions of dollars through agriculture which enhances livelihood of farmers and food security, and also improved the social and economic state of the people.

Buhari said Federal Government had adopted proactive measures to check smuggling through the land borders in the country.

According to him, government has created an enabling environment for educated Nigerians to venture into legitimate and sustainable agriculture to enable them become self-reliant and employers of labour.

The President, however, commended Gov. Babagana Zulum for providing quality leadership in the state.

Also speaking, Zulum called on the military to take the fight to the insurgents in the fringes of the Sambisa Forest, Lake Chad Basin and other identified hideouts of the terrorists.

Zulum urged the military authorities to foster greater unity between them and the civil authorities with a view to closing the existing discrepancies in their relations.

“We also call on the Federal Government and the military to open opportunities for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), in host communities to have access to their farmlands, livestock and fishing areas so as to upgrade their livelihood.

“I equally implore all the citizens of Borno to be patient, law abiding and not to forget the past.

“This is very important; I call on all of you to pray, may Allah bless our leaders, bless our state and Nigeria as a whole,” Zulum said.

On his part, Elkanemi commended the president on the sympathy visit and pledged support of the traditional institutions to end insurgency.

The president was accompanied by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno, Sardiya Farouq, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, among other officials.