The Federal Government, through the Minister of Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, has vowed to get rid of bandits and other criminal gangs terrorizing northwest.
This is amid the arrival of the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, General Christopher Musa and other top military officials in Sokoto on Tuesday, with the aim of leading a military onslaught against the bandits and other criminals bedeviling the North West region
Recall that the Federal Government last Friday ordered the military to relocate its command structure to Sokoto State, address the soaring banditry activities, urging the CDS to oversee the efforts at bringing an end to the banditry terrorized communities across the North West.
The minister and his delegation, including the Chief of Defence Intelligence, CDI, and other senior military officers, were received on arrival by the General Officer Commanding, GOC, 8 Division, Brigadier General I A Ajose, and Force Commander of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation Hadarin Daji.
Speaking, after a closed door meeting with operation commanders of joint operation Hadarin Daji at 8 Division headquarters, Sokoto, Matawalle, said the ministry of defence would provide all needed support and encouragement to the troops in the war against terrorists in the northwest.
According to him, “We are in Sokoto in compliance with the presidential directives to flush out terrorists and other criminal gangs terrorising North west. I am optimistic the operation will bring an end to Bello Turji and all others that give citizens of the region a sleepless night.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who is in China for official engagement called and directed the minister of Defence and Chief of Defence Staff to relocate to Sokoto headquarters of 8 Division Nigeria Army to flush out criminals terrorizing northwest sub region”
Addressing troops of 8 Division headquarters at Giginya Barracks Sokoto, the minister said they would continue in collaboration in the fight against bandits and other criminals terrorizing the northwest geopolitical region.
