The Nigerian government on
Tuesday ordered the military to go after those behind banditry in Zamfara and
other states.
A statement by Colonel Tukur
Gusau, Public Relations Officer to the Minister of Defence, said the government
was concerned about the security challenges in the North-West, particularly in
Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina states and Birnin Gwari axis of Kaduna state.
It said due to the recent
prevailing security situation in the states, the Ministry through the Nigerian
Army is now conducting Exercise HARBIN KUNAMA IV simultaneously in Zamfara, Katsina
and Sokoto States.
“The purpose of the exercise is
to effectively flush out the activities of criminal elements in the North
West”, it noted.
“The Nigerian Air Force has also
intensified air strikes against the bandits in Zamfara. So far, the combined
efforts have yielded to lot of successes leading to the killing of many
bandits, rescue of many innocent persons including the renowned Islamic scholar
Sheik Ahmad Suleiman.
“The Government is also
addressing the remote and immediate causes that gave room to high spate of
armed banditry in the states.
“Recently the government acted on
the advice of the Ministry of Defence to suspend all mining activities in
Zamfara State and environs following intelligence report that suggest close
collaboration between the activities of the bandits and illegal miners.
“It is instructive to mention
here that insurgency and terrorism are global phenomena that cannot be
addressed through military actions only. The whole society has to rise in
unison to support the government’s efforts to address the problem.
“However, in spite of the
concerted efforts of the Armed Forces and other security some unpatriotic
persons including highly placed traditional rulers in the areas were identified
as helping the bandits with intelligence to perpetuate their nefarious actions
or to compromise military operations.”
The statement added that as part
of ways to provide security, the Nigerian Army has established 8 Division with
headquarters in Sokoto to cover Kebbi, Sokoto, Katsina and Zamfara states while
the Headquarters of 1 Brigade was relocated from Sokoto to Gusau.
“Presently the tactical
headquarters of 8 Division has since located to Gusau. Similarly, the Nigerian
Air Force also established Quick Response Force in Gusau and landing areas in
Gusau and Birnin Magaji respectively,” Gusau said.
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