Despite incessant killings in Northern states, the presidency insisted that the nation’s armes forces are fully capable of dealing with the challenge of banditry and terrorism.
This statement was made by the presidency while appealing to residents of northern states across the country who took to the streets on Tuesday, June 16 to protest against killings in their respective states.
Recall that some residents of Niger and Katsina states had taken to the streets to protest and demand an end to the activities of bandits in the Northern region of the country.
The presidency in a statement released by President Buhari’s media aide Garba Shehu stated the military is taking appropriate steps to block gaps being exploited to unleash mayhem on innocent citizens.
Buhari specifically urged indigenes of his home state, Katsina not to give up on the military as the armed forces have a strong track record of quelling crises once given enough time. He also said that major forests in North Western Nigeria have been identified as home to the bandits in the region.
The statement reads;
The Presidency assures Nigerians, again, that the nation’s armed forces are fully capable of dealing with the challenges of banditry and terrorism, urging more patience as the military takes appropriate steps to block gaps being exploited to unleash mayhem on innocent citizens.
President Muhammadu Buhari, who has approved a joint military and police operation specifically targeted at combing Niger, Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto States to rid the areas of bandits,…..assures that surveillance will be improved, with more night vision aircrafts already deployed under “Operation Accord’’.
The operation was launched three weeks ago. “Nigeria’s military has displayed its capabilities in the past and will show it again by dealing with the current challenges,” the President says.
President Buhari appeals to the people of Katsina State to be patient and supportive of the ongoing military operations in the state, while sympathizing with those who are bereaved, injured and lost properties.
President Buhari admonishes that taking to the streets for protest could distract the military operations, urging “Katsina indigenes not to give up on the military who over the years have a strong track record of quelling crises once given enough time.
“The major forests in North Western Nigeria have been identified as home to the bandits in the region. The operation will clear all these forests,’’ he further said.