The recent victories recorded by Nigeria’s Armed Forces against terrorists and key bandits in the country have been commended by the Security Watch Network for Good Governance (SecWatchNGG), which has also hailed the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle for his leadership in dealing with Nigeria’s security crisis.
The pro-good governance and security group, in a statement signed by its President, Mallam Abdullahi Fagge on Wednesday, stated that the country had recently recorded a streak of victories against bandits, and this had not gone unnoticed.
“Within the past few months, and more recently the past few days, the Nigerian Armed Forces have been on a winning streak. Only yesterday, we were informed of the surrender of notorious bandits who previously operated in the Batsari, Safana and Jibia Local Government areas of Katsina State. These kingpins included the infamous Abu Radda, Umar Black, Abdullahi Lankai, Jijjige and Dabar Musa Dan Gandu.
“They had no choice but to surrender. The military’s onslaught caught up with them after an intensified operation where they had no where to go to other than to seek peace and disarm.
“A bandit was also captured a few days ago in Sokoto State. He had run out of ammunition while engaging with troops in a gunfight during a midnight raid that was carried out by the armed forces against bandits. Several others were neutralised, and this is the case across the entire North West.”
Mallam Fagge further stated that with the onslaught against bandits in the region, the infamous bandit leader, Bello Turji has since been on the run and would soon be caught by the Nigerian Armed Forces.
“Do you remember Bello Turji? That bandit leader who was always recording videos and boasting about his criminality? Have you heard from him again? In over eight months he has not released a single video. He has entered into a place of permanent hiding while our military are closing in on him.
“We believe that in no time Turji will be history, alongside his criminality across the region.
“Just last week two major wanted bandit leaders, Kachalla Gwammade and Kachalla Shehu, were eliminated by troops of Operation Fansan Yanma, under the ongoing Operation Show No Mercy in Zamfara State.
“It is clear that bandits are being smoked out and annihilated by our armed forces from all angles. The whole of the North West, from Zamfara to Katsina, to Sokoto is no longer a safe for bandits to operate.”
The group also commended the Armed Forces for blocking the logistic supplies of criminal groups, stating that most arms suppliers across the North West had been arrested.
“Earlier this week, we learnt that troops of Operation Fansan Yanma, in Nasarrawa Burkullu, Zamfara State had eliminated an arms supplier who was trying to escape after he had been accosted with a cache of weapons meant for bandits.”
The Security Watch Network for Good Governance commended the Minister of State Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle who it noted is a major player in attaining these successes by ensuring the welfare, equipping and high morale of troops at the war front.
“We must give credit to Minister of State Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle who has shown exceptional commitment to the cause of dealing with banditry in the North West of the country. We recall that it was last year September when he led Defence Chiefs and other security personnel to the region, with the goal of placing a permanent end to banditry that Nigeria began to see these turn around.
“That visit and subsequent ones have led to the elimination of major bandit leaders, neutralising of over 8,000 terrorists, with over 11,000 arrested and tens of thousands of weapons recovered.
“Dr. Bello Matawalle has provided strategic leadership to the Armed Forces, and through his efforts, and the coordinating role of the the National Security Adviser that we are seeing all these victories.”
The group called on the government not to relent until all bandits and terrorists are brought to justice.