Army Urges North West Governors To Give Them Free Hands To Wipe Out Bandits
The Army Chief of Staff, Major General Taoreed Lagbaja, has pleaded with governors in the north west region, to give troops a free hand to wipe out terrorists, bandits and other criminal elements in the region.
He urges the governors to work with the Army, as it comes up with new strategy to address the challenges of banditry in the region.
The Army Chief said new platforms and fund for the reactivation of unseviceable platforms, to boost the morale of troops in the region.
Lagbaja, speaking while receiving Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal at the Army Headquarters in Abuja, also opposed the proposed amnesty for armed bandits and terrorists in the north.
Senator Abdul Aziz Yari had told President Tinubu to consider a fresh amnesty modeled after that of the Niger Delta Militants for the repentant bandits in the north west region.
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According to the Army Chief, the amnesty programmes floated in the past by governors in the north had failed as the terrorists and bandits had been used to regroup for fresh attacks on innocent persons.
He said that insecurity in Zamfara was due to farmers-herders clashes, ethnic conflicts and the quest for economic survival.
Lawal said, “I’m frustrated that Zamfara is facing serious security challenges. I will say without mincing words, Zamfara is the state facing the most challenges in insecurity today. Therefore, for me, being the number one citizen, part of my responsibility is protecting lives and properties.
“It is sad to mention that there is never a day without people being killed in one area or local government or the other. This is very, very worrisome for us because, without security, development can’t take place.
“I cannot do this alone. I need the support of the Chief of Army Staff and his entire team. I need to bring peace to first Zamfara and then Nigeria in general.”
