FG Deploys 1000 Security Personnel, Fighter Jets in Zamfara to fight Banditry; Yari Commend Buhari over deployment.

FG Deploys 1000 Security Personnel, Fighter Jets in Zamfara to fight Banditry; Yari Commend Buhari over deployment.

The Federal Government said on Saturday that it has assembled 1000-strong military force, comprising the army, air force, police and the civil defence to launch fierce attacks on the bandits terrorizing the villages and towns of Zamfara State.

Following directives by President Muhammadu Buhari, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has begun the deployment of fighter aircraft to Katsina, the airport with the closest proximity to Zamfara State to make for immediate and effective response to the menace of the bandits.

This had not been possible in the past because there was no fuel depot facility in Katsina, but NAF has devised a way around the problem.

The President has also authorized the engagement by NAF, of advanced satellite surveillance technology to help in accurate detection of movement and locations of the bandits.

The government had to go to this extent because of the limitations of conventional surveillance, as the use of satellite technology could make the task of NAF less problematic.

Following directives from the President, at the weekend, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Sadiq Abubakar, was in Gusau where he met the Deputy Governor of the State.

The Chief of Air Staff reiterated the President’s pledge that he would never abandon victims of attacks to their fate, reaffirming that security remains one of the cardinal pillars of his campaign promises and no leader would be happy to see his own citizens killed by criminal groups across the country.

A statement by Malam Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity), recalled that since his election, the President has kept faith with his promises to re-equip and motivate the country’s military and other security services.

The army and other security services are now better equipped and motivated to face the challenges of their responsibilities.

The Presidency, therefore, appeals to all Nigerians to unite and speak with one voice on security issues and urges politicians to stop exploiting national security challenges.

Those praying for the President to fail in this effort can be likened to one stabbing oneself in the heart and celebrating about it.
In this regard, security should not be reduced to petty politics as doing so could only embolden the terrorists and other murderous gangs.
We therefore appeal to members of the Nigerian media to avoid unhelpful and deleterious sensationalism in the coverage of events that border on national security.

The media should under no circumstances make the bandits or terrorists feel like super stars because doing so could hurt all of us.
Terrorists seek to achieve maximum publicity and they do so by launching large scale attacks on soft targets and the media must resist every attempt to play into their hands unwittingly.

Meanwhile Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara state on Sunday July 29th, 2018, applauded the quick response by the President and Commander in – Chief, Muhammadu Buhari for the deployment of troops to Zamfara state to tackle insecurity bedeviling the rural communities
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Governor Yari who was reacting to the matching order issued to Security Chiefs in the country to mobilize and deploy 1000 combined troops to Zamfara to deal with the current security challenges facing the state, said the action has brought big relief to his government and would go a long way in relieving the people of the state the psychological trauma the bandits exposed them to during the eight years of the banditry.

The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum said the decision by the federal government to deploy 1000-Strong Military Force to the State would ensure quick tackling of the incessant attacks and killings of innocent people in the rural farming communities of the state and boost Economic activities of the people.

The Governor while appreciating the quick response of the Federal Government to the several appeals by the Government and the people of Zamfara State on the need to send adequate troops to the state to deal with the wanton killings that have nearly caused unrest in rural communities in the state, the action demonstrated the good intentions of the Buhari administration in fulfilling it’s campaign promises in dealing with insecurity in the country.

Governor Yari Said “with the deployment of 1000-Strong Military Force combining the army, air force, police and the civil defense, government of Zamfara State now have has absolute confidence in dealing with the banditry facing the state and have now been encouraged in its tireless efforts to collaborate with the federal government to end the menace which has displaced 18 thousands persons from over 18 villages in the past few days in Zurmi local government area and other parts of the state.”

“The compliance with the directives of President Muhammadu Buhari by the Nigerian Air Force of the deployment of Fighter Aircraft to launch fierce attacks on the bandits is another visible pointer that we are not left with our own fate.” said Yari.

The NGF Chairman also described the Presidential Authorization of Advanced Satellite Surveillance Technology to ensure accurate detection of movement and locations of the criminals as worthy of appreciation, adding that it would help significantly in the operation.

Hon. Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar reaffirmed his government’s commitment and continuous engagement of traditional institutions, community leaders and other stakeholders with a view to complimenting the federal and State governments’ efforts in dislodging the bandits.

The Governor therefore enjoys people of the state to remain firm, prayerful and desist from any act of rumour circulation as it frightens innocent people into despair.

END