Even as he is airborne on his way back to the country after cutting short his southern Africa trip, Nigeria’s President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has summoned the country’s security chiefs to an emergency meeting to be held on his arrival in the country’s capital, Abuja.

Presidential spokesman Dr. Reuben Abati, said in a statement just issued in Abuja:

“In view of recent developments at home in Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan has cut short his visit to South Africa and aborted his state visit to Namibia which was due to start today.

“The President is returning to Abuja immediately to personally oversee efforts by national security agencies to contain the fresh challenges to national security which have emerged this week in Borno, Plateau and Nassarawa States.

“President Jonathan will on arrival, meet with the Chief of Defence Staff, the Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police and heads of national security services on arrival to review the security situation in the country.”

News Express reports that about 100 persons have died in Borno, Plateau and Nassarawa states in the past few days, among them about 50 polices, military and State Security Service personnel killed by religious militants on Monday and Tuesday.

•Photo: Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Sa'ad Ibrahim.