From Olukayode Idowu, Defence Correspondent
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai has called on the troops in Zamfara to go deep into the bushes and deal the final blow on bandits.
The COAS gave the charge when he paid an operational visit to the troops deployed at Sector 2 Forward Operating Base, Zurmi in Zamfara State on Tuesday.
He said that the asymmetric nature of the ongoing war against banditry in the region required painstaking effort toward identifying the hideouts of the criminals, urged the troops to remain focused in the discharge of the constitutional responsibilities, adding that there are forces both internally and externally bent on sabotaging their effort.
He assured the troops of more and better equipment needed to prosecute the war against the criminals.
He said: “More equipment have been procured and deployed in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s promise to enhance the fighting power of the military.
“You must ensure that you remain focused and not be distracted as there are so many forces trying to sabotage the security of this country both internally and externally”.
He further stated that “the troops must go deep inside the bush and pursue the bandits until they are tactically defeated because we have what it takes to defeat them.”
He commended the troops for their patriotism and commitment to defending the territorial integrity of the nation.
He later paid a visit to the Palace of the Emir of Zurmi, Alhaji Abubakar Mohammed, where he assured of the renewed commitment of the Nigerian military to end the lingering security challenges.
The Emir applauded the effort of the military in addressing the security challenges in Zamfara state and pledged to support the military to succeed in curtailing it.
Also at the palace of the Emir of Kaura-Namoda, Buratai assured that Nigerian army was fully committed to ending the menace of insecurity in the state.
Responding, the Emir, Alhaji Sanusi Muhammad, commended the military and other security agencies for their effort towards addressing the security challenges.
Muhammad also expressed profound appreciation to President Muhammadu Bihari for giving priority to the state, adding that farmers were now confident to go their farms.
He promised to deploy his wealth of experience in security to support the military and other security agencies in curtailing the activities of bandits in the state.
