President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has praised the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies for a successful security operation in Kogi State that resulted in the killing of notorious bandit kingpin Ibrahim Bastuji and the rescue of Hajiya Amina Rabe Abubakar, widow of former Chief of Defence Information, the late General Rabe Abubakar (retd).
In a statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President described Bastuji’s elimination as a major breakthrough in the fight against banditry and violent crime in Kogi State and surrounding areas.
According to Tinubu, the bandit leader was responsible for a reign of terror marked by kidnappings, attacks on civilians and other criminal activities that caused major hardship for residents.
“I congratulate our gallant troops on this decisive milestone. Nigeria will not surrender any part of its territory to criminals. Those who choose the path of violence against innocent citizens will find no hiding place. This success reflects the renewed determination of our security forces to secure every inch of our land,” the President said.
Tinubu noted that the operation would help restore public confidence and provide relief to communities that had suffered from insecurity.
The President also commended security personnel for the successful rescue of Hajiya Amina Rabe Abubakar, describing the operation as a demonstration of professionalism, courage and effective intelligence coordination.
“The safe return of Hajiya Amina Rabe Abubakar is a source of relief to her family and to all Nigerians. I commend the intelligence coordination and bravery of the officers and men who executed the rescue operation. We owe a debt of gratitude to our troops who risk their lives daily to keep us safe,” he said.
Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to tackling insecurity, Tinubu assured Nigerians that the government would continue to provide the Armed Forces with the resources, training and support required to combat banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes.
He also urged citizens to support security agencies by providing timely and credible information to aid ongoing operations.