Skip to main content

Despite Rising Insecurity, Killings, Buratai Congratulates Self, Olonisakin On Fifth Anniversary Of Appointment

Earlier, Buratai said tremendous successes had been achieved within the few days that ExSS commenced, adding that a number of bandits had either been arrested or eliminated.

The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, has given the assurance that banditry in the North West and Central region will soon be a thing of the past.

He gave the assurance when he visited the troops of Exercise Sahel Sanity (ExSS) at the Special Army Super Camp 4, Faskari in Katsina State on Monday.

This is just as the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, gave the military a pass mark while disclosing that Monday, being July 13, marked the fifth year of their appointment as service chiefs and congratulated Olonisakin for their successes so far.

Olonisaki said the launch of ExSS by Nigerian Army was a testimony of their commitment to addressing all security challenges facing the country. 

Image

He said that the exercise was a real-time exercise that would transit into operation aimed at attacking banditry in Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto as well as Kaduna and Niger States.

The News Agency of Nigeria quoted him to have said, “From the briefs I have received and what I have seen here today, there is no doubt in my mind that the scourge of the banditry will soon be a thing of the past and all law-abiding citizens would be able to resume their normal lives.

“The past five years of our fight against insurgency, banditry and other criminalities in our nation, the armed forces of Nigeria constantly re-strategise and develop models and approaches as well as restructuring to better position her to address our national security challenges.

“The super Camp concept of the Nigerian Army is one of these efforts aimed at repositioning the Nigerian army to better contain these challenges.

“It, therefore, gladdens my heart to witness ExSS which is already achieving the much-desired result put together by Nigerian army from its super Camp in Faskari."

Olonisaki  assured the Chief of Army Staff of the support of the Defence Headquarter towards achieving the objectives of the exercise.

He commended the Nigerian Army for its innovative approaches to the myriad of security challenges across the country with the support of other security agencies.

Earlier, Buratai said tremendous successes had been achieved within the few days that ExSS commenced, adding that a number of bandits had either been arrested or eliminated.

According to him, there have been clearing of bandits, recovery of rustled cattle, recovery of arms, kidnapped victims being rescued and host of other criminal activities that have been stopped.

He said, “We have also reduced or arrested quite a number of the informants and logistics suppliers of these bandits and their collaborators in the cities and villages here in the North West.

“We are just beginning and we want to assure Nigerians that this operation that is ongoing will bring about a very reasonable state of security in the North West.

“We are not only restricting ourselves to the North West, concurrently, but we are also carrying out operations in the North Central especially Kaduna and Niger States. It is very important that we take note and we will continue to carry out our responsibilities diligently,” he said.

Topics
Military