Defence chief Olufemi Oluyede has charged troops of the 2 National Mission Force Brigade to intensify offensive operations against terrorists, bandits and other criminal elements in Southern Kaduna.

Mr Oluyede gave the directive during an operational visit to the Brigade at Samaru Kataf in Kaduna State.

This is contained in a statement by the Director of Defence Information, Samaila Uba, on Thursday in Abuja.

The CDS urged the troops to remain proactive and innovative in tackling evolving security threats, stressing the need to consistently stay ahead of criminal elements.

“You must outwit criminals by anticipating their actions and evolving effective countermeasures.

“The Armed Forces will continue to support you with the necessary equipment and prioritise your welfare to ensure success,” he said.

Mr Oluyede said the visit was part of ongoing efforts to assess the brigade’s combat readiness and address operational challenges with a view to consolidating gains recorded in the area.

He expressed satisfaction with the troops’ alertness, discipline and professionalism, while urging them to sustain the tempo of operations.

The commander of the brigade, O.J. Ekuma, said troops had recorded significant operational successes, including the neutralisation of criminals, recovery of weapons and rustled livestock, rescue of kidnapped victims and arrest of high-profile bandits and their collaborators.

Mr Ekuma added that the brigade had also disrupted the movement of criminal elements within its joint operations area, thereby improving security across the region.

The defence chief also inspected ongoing defence headquarters projects and military deployments and directed the provision of critical operational equipment to address identified gaps.

(NAN)