Army determined to rid Nigeria of terrorists, bandits –Buratai

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai, has said the army is determined to rid the country of terrorists, bandits and their collaborators.

Briefing journalists at Faskari, Katsina State, on Saturday, Buratai said the army was “ever determined to fish out and kill the bandits who have been terrorising the people until the country is completely rid of banditry activities.”

Faskari, which houses the Army Super Camp Four, is the operational base of the troops of Operation Sahel Sanity operating in Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara states.

According to the COAS, between July 6 and September 12, hundreds of bandits were neutralised, others arrested, while a large number of informants were also arrested by the troops.

He urged members of the public to continue to provide useful information to the troops in the fight against banditry.

Buratai said the operation, which was expected to end in September, had been extended till December.

He said, “The bandits and other criminals are not spirits; they live among the people. Let me assure you: we shall continue to be ruthless with the criminals. We are determined to work harder along with the support of our sister agencies to achieve peace in Nigeria.

“When these criminals are not shielded, the sooner we will win the security challenge. I will urge our people, especially in the communities, our men are in operation, to always supply us with credible information on the criminals so that together we can win the battle against insecurity.”

One of the media officers at the Super Camp Four, Major Adamu Ngulde, had earlier while briefing the COAS, stated that the troops had among others achievements killed 103 bandits and arrested 149 others in the first two months of the commencement of the operation.

He also said the troops arrested 39 informants and collaborators with the bandits. Ngulde also added that 137 kidnap victims; 3,948 cows; and 1,627 sheep were rescued during the period.