President Bola Tinubu’s government has vowed to crush bandits terrorising the North-West.

Defence minister Bello Matawalle stated this while speaking to journalists in Sokoto on Wednesday.

Mr Matawalle said he was in Sokoto to lead another onslaught against bandits, terrorists and other criminals in North-West states. The initiative was part of Mr Tinubu’s directives on the minister alongside military chiefs to relocate to Sokoto and ensure the bandits are dealt with decisively.

“As directed by Mr President, I am back in Sokoto state to coordinate this assignment of flushing all bandits and other criminals. We have recorded some level of achievements. Our troops killed notorious gang leaders and group members in different places. Relative peace has so far been restored specifically in Sokoto, Zamfara and Katsina.

“I am optimistic that our gallant troops will sustain the strides and continue to record success through  the operation Fansan Yamma, which is ongoing in the fight against these criminals in the Northwest, ” Mr Matawalle said.

He assured the people of the Northwest states on unwavering commitment toward ensuring that operations have achieve all the necessary successes in the fight against all forms of security challenges bedeviling the region.

“We will never leave you alone and be assured that we will win this war against bandits and those supporting them to unleash terror against the people.

“The federal government will continue to boost the morale of  our soldiers and other security agencies to bring an end to this menace. We appreciate the sacrifices and gallantly fight against insecurity by our teeming military personnel and other security agencies,” the minister explained.

Mr Matawalle commended Governor Ahmad Aliyu of Sokoto state for his support to the success of the operations. He called on other governors, political leaders, clerics and stakeholders to support the presidential initiatives.

He underscored the importance of the collaboration with the federal government in the fight in order to achieve the targeted goals.

“We must collaborate together to bring these bandits down through use of kinetic and non-kinetic methods to crush them entirely. We will never be intimidated, rest or give the criminals breathing space. 

“We must stop them from moving freely no matter how they blackmail or make propaganda or mischief against our operations. We will never be distracted in securing lives and properties of our people,” he added.

Mr Tinubu, on August 31, ordered Matawalle and other military chiefs to move to Sokoto state to rid the Northwest region of activities of bandits, kidnappers and terrorists.

The federal government said the relocation is part of an intensified effort to rid the region of the menace of banditry, kidnapping and terrorism.

(NAN)