The Nigerian military has started dropping leaflets and airing jingles to warn residents about impending operations and offensives against terrorists and bandits.
This comes barely 48 hours after a 'surprise raid' by aircraft in Zamfara State that reportedly eliminated scores of bandits, PRNigeria reports.
A defence intelligence source told PRNigeria that in an effort to avoid collateral damage in the renewed military operations, leaflets and jingles have been produced to warn citizens living in areas prone to banditry in Zamfara and some other states.
"As aggressive bombardments by the air and ground troops are being planned in the coming days in Zamfara and in other North West and the North-Central States, we have intensified campaign to warn civilians of the implications of living in such areas of our operation to avoid collateral damages.
"We have produced enlightenment leaflets and jingles in Pidgin, Hausa, Fulfulde and Kanuri, warning residents of the banditry-prone areas mostly in the forests to relocate from such environments which have been taken over by criminal gangs. This is because of an impending massive onslaught against the terrorists.
"The leaflet dropping and jingles will intensify our security consciousness campaigns to reduce collateral damage and encourage willing bandits to surrender to the troops as soon as possible," the source was quoted as saying.
It was gathered that as the jingles were being aired on local stations, military aircraft dropped leaflets to warn civilians living in areas under the control of bandits about impending massive air strikes and ground operations.