Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Olufemi Oluyede, has tasked troops of Operation Fansan Yamma (OPFY) to root out the remnants of bandits and criminal elements in the North-West region.
He gave the task during his operational visit to troops under OPFY in Gusau, Zamfara,
Oluyede said his visit was to assess the readiness of soldiers, address their challenges, and boost their morale in the ongoing fight against banditry and kidnapping in the region.
The Chief of Defence Staff declared that Nigeria must be made safe “at all costs” amid renewed military efforts with enhanced aerial support.
“My charge to the troops is clear: they should go out there and eliminate all these criminals. We must make Nigeria safe at all costs,” he said.
The CDS reiterated the military’s determination to rid the North-West of banditry, pointing out that sustained pressure on criminal groups would eventually restore law and order in the region.
While acknowledging existing limitations of aerial support, the CDS assured that efforts were ongoing to strengthen the Nigerian Air Force’s operational capacity.
“We are doing our best based on the platforms available. These resources are being shared across multiple theatres of operation. The government is, however, working to acquire more platforms to support the ground troops,” he said.
He lauded the Zamfara State Government and residents for their continued support for military operations.
He expressed delight in the recent procurement of armoured vehicles, including Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) platforms, adding that the assets would enhance operational effectiveness in the entire North-West region.
The CDS, however, appealed for more collaboration from local communities in the area of intelligence gathering.
He further stressed the need for credible information, which he said remains critical to dismantling bandit networks in the region.
