As the Nigerian Army steps up its efforts to combat criminal groups in the area, Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, the Chief of Army Staff, has promised that Katsina State will soon be free of banditry.
Oluyede made this pledge on Wednesday during his maiden operational visit to the 17 Brigade of the Nigerian Army at the Natsinta Barracks in Katsina.
After meeting with commanders behind closed doors, he told reporters that the purpose of his visit was to evaluate the brigade’s activities and resolve any issues impeding their efficacy.
“The main goal of my operational visit to Katsina State 17 Brigade is to evaluate the brigade’s operational activities, examine their difficulties, and determine how quickly I can resolve them so that they can perform the task we have given them to do exceptionally well,” he said.
The Army Chief praised the brigade’s efforts to combat instability and ordered them to further up their efforts to eradicate bandits from the state entirely.
I’m sure you’ll concur that the brigade has been performing admirably. In order to eradicate all of these outlaws from the state and make it a safer place for us to live, I have come to exhort and charge them to do more,” he stated.
Oluyede reiterated the army’s dedication to bringing Katsina’s security back, emphasizing that their goal is to make sure that banditry is totally eradicated from the state.
Since the goal is to completely eradicate the bandits from the state, he continued, “we have recorded a number of successes, which is why I’m here to charge them to do more.”
The Army Chief also emphasized the significance of his troops’ role in protecting lives and property and asked them to stay committed to their mission of safeguarding the country.
Oluyede underlined that since eradicating bandits from the area is in line with the soldiers’ primary role of protecting Nigeria, it is their fundamental obligation.
He emphasized that maintaining security will make the public’s surroundings safer, free up government resources for development, and eventually enhance Nigerians’ quality of life.