By Habibu Harisu
THE FEDERAL government is to establish three military formations in Sokoto State to support military operations in the fight against banditry and other forms of criminality.
The Minister of State Defence, Dr Bello Matawalle, made this known on Thursday when he led military personnel to reopen the Marnona-Gundumi-Isa road closed eight years ago.
He interacted with members of different communities in Isa, Sabon Birni and Goronyo local government areas.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the reopened roads were abandoned due to security challenges and the successes were part of the achievements in the ongoing operations in the Northwest.
He explained that he was in Sokoto for the second time to lead another onslaught against bandits, terrorists and other criminals in Northwest states.
“As directed by President Bola Tinubu, I am back in Sokoto state to coordinate this assignment of flushing all bandits and other criminals.
“We have recorded successes, Our troops killed notorious gang leaders and group members in different places. Relative peace has so far been restored specifically in Sokoto, Zamfara and Katsina States.
“I am optimistic that our gallant troops will sustain the strides and continue to record success through the operation which is ongoing in the fight against these criminals,” Matawalle said.
He underscored the importance of the collaboration with the federal government in the fight in order to achieve the targeted goals.
“We must collaborate together to bring these bandits down through use of kinetic and non-kinetic methods to crush them entirely.
“We are calling for support from our governors, religious, political and community leaders toward achieving the desired success on the task ahead,” he said.
While he visited some deserted settlements, the Minister called residents to return to as government is fully committed to safeguard their lives and properties.
He warned the residents against acting as informants to bandits, which he described as same crime and aiding banditry to continue stressing that all informants caught would be dealt with accordingly.
In his remark, Sokoto State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Idris Gobir, reiterated state government commitment to support Federal Government efforts on ending all the security challenges that bedevilled the nation.
Speaking during the visit, Chairman of Isa local government area, Alhaji Sharifu Kamarawa, commended the Minister for the visit which would surely boost the morale of troops and restore hope to the communities.
Kamarawa said residents have faced enormous challenges, however, with present operation normalcy have been restored and urged the Minister to redeploy more security operatives.
In Sabon Birni and Goronyo, the local government chairmen, Alhaji Ayuba Hashimu and Alhaji Zubairu Yari have expressed appreciation to the Minister’s visits and appealed for more supports to residents.
A cross-section of community members disclosed that bandits were earlier ruling vast areas, enforcing regulations and levies, however, due to the operations, bandits’ camps have disappeared and appealed for more military presence in the areas.
NAN reports that areas visited included Gidan Duro, Marnona, Gidan Sule, Tudun Bale, Mailalle, Tsamaye, Chori mayal among other communities.
NAN reports that President Tinubu on Aug. 31, ordered Matawalle and other military chiefs to move to Sokoto state to rid the Northwest region of activities of bandits, kidnappers and terrorists.
The federal government said the relocation, is part of an intensified effort to rid the region of the menace of banditry, kidnapping and terrorism. (NAN)
