Shortly
before leaving for Abuja through the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport,
Katsina, the President interacted with troops deployed to curb the activities
of bandits and criminals in Zamfara and neighbouring states under Operations
Sharan Daji and Diran Mikiya.
The
unannounced visit was intended to appreciate the work of the Nigerian Armed
Forces, for the results that are being achieved in securing the nation and its
people.
During the
interaction, the President applauded officers and men of the Nigerian Air Force
(NAF) and the Army for the counter-offensive against bandits in Zamfara State
and environs, assuring them of his full support as ‘‘a worthy Commander-in-Chief.’’
He urged
officers and men to keep up the good work in the results achieved in dealing
with banditry, kidnapping and cattle rustling in the affected States, within
the short period of the operation’s existence.
His words:
‘‘I am here and pleased at this opportunity to address you and express my
pleasure and happiness as your Commander-in-Chief on your performance on the
two respective operations.
‘‘Nigerians
are looking up to you and us to secure the country. What is happening in the
areas of operations are disgraceful. I’m very pleased with the way officers and
men are firmly putting it down and I want you to be as ruthless as humanly
possible. Nigerians deserve some peace.’’
The
President reminded the troops that when he was elected into office in 2015, he
promised the nation security, an improved economy and a commitment to fight
corruption.
‘‘The
country has to be secured to be managed…we have been doing our best and we
depend a lot on you to do what is needed in the field. I do not want you to
spare any cattle rustler, armed robber or any person who thinks he is above the
law.
‘‘I commend
you for the job you have been doing so far and I assure you that I will
continue to be a worthy Commander-in-Chief. Thank you very much and God bless
the Federal Republic of Nigeria,’’ the President said.
In his brief
to the President, Air Vice Marshall Sampson Akpasa, the Air Officer Commanding
Special Operations Command, NAF, said locations such as Mashema, Shinkafi,
Ajia, Rafi, Shamashalle, Zurmi and Galadi in Zamfara State, previously used as
staging and trading bases by the bandits have been made untenable through
sustained air interdiction and armed reconnaissance.
‘‘The air
efforts in the last couple of weeks also provided close air support to ground
troops on various occasions. Additionally, the Air Task Force(ATF) responded to
several distress calls from sister security forces and locals by neutralising
the identified massed bandits and preventing imminent attacks on villages/towns
such as Yanwari and Hayin Alhaj,” Akpasa said.
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