War on Banditry/Kidnapping: Army renergizes, reorganizes Exercise Harbin Kunama 111

Following the upsurge in kidnapping and armed banditry in several parts of the North particularly the North West, the Nigerian Army has carried out a reorganization and reinvigoration of ‘Exercise Harbin Kunama 111’, with the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai tasking Formation Commanders to end armed banditry and curtail activities of fleeing criminal elements, attacking soft targets.

The COAS who was represented by Major General Lamidi Adeosun, Chief of Training and Operations, made the disclosure at the conference room of the Army headquarters, Abuja.

Noting that Exercise Harbin Kunama III which was launched on the 1st of April 2019 has yielded tremendous results, Buratai disclosed that many bandits and criminal elements were intercepted and scores of insurgents crushed in the course of the Exercise.

He thanked traditional rulers in the region for their cooperation while urging them to galvanize their followers and subjects to encourage a peaceful Exercise.

His words, “I must continue to thank our traditional rulers as I urge them to galvanize their followers and subjects in order to ensure peace in the country.

“My gratitude to all officers and men of the Nigerian Army who are working tirelessly to end insecurity in the country. Your sacrifices is commendable.

“The Nigerian Army will continue to provide the necessary support as we fight to defeat the ugly menace of armed banditry and insurgency in the country.

”I equally want to appreciate all other security agencies for their cooperation since the launch of Exercise Harbin Kunama III”.

He thanked the Governors of Zamfara, Sokoto and Katsina States for their support since the commencement of the Exercise. He also thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for his unflinching support by approving necessary logistics for the smooth conduct of the Exercise.

Gen Buratai reiterated the commitment of the Nigerian Army to sustain existing synergy with the media while urging members of the public to cooperate with security agencies to fight crime.

He revealed that a joint military operation will be launched to prevent the fleeing bandits migrating to other safer haven within the region.

Text of the Press Briefing reads, “You may recall that Exercise Harbin Kunama III was launched on 1 April 2019 after the Chief of Army staff’s Press Conference in Gusau, Zamfara State on 31 March 2019. I am pleased to inform you all that the exercise has so far achieved tremendous successes within the past one month. Several bandits and criminal elements have been captured and killed while some camps, hideouts and equipment of the criminals have been destroyed.

“It has however been observed that there appear to be a resurgence of their activities in other contiguous States to Zamfara. This is occasioned by fleeing bandits that have resorted to attacking soft targets while relocating to other safe havens within contiguous States of Katsina and Sokoto.

“Current threat assessments revealed the migration of the bandits from their epicenter to other areas in Kaduna, Kano and Niger States.

“It is against this backdrop that Exercise Harbin Kunama III is being re-organized and its mandate expanded to effectively ensure the complete defeat of the fleeing bandits. This is to restore public confidence and enhance safety while also ensuring socio-economic activities continue without fear or intimidation.

“It is on this premise that I want to plead with the general public to persevere in the face of seeming inconveniences due to restrictions that may be imposed in these areas while the Nigerian Army is conducting the exercise. The Nigerian Army mandate is aimed at building confidence and ensuring our country is rid of criminal elements that are poised to destabilize the normal life, rights and freedom of the people across the country as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution.

“I want to assure the general public that the Nigerian Army will carry out its constitutional mandate professionally and within the ambit of the law while adhering to the ROE. Consequently, I urge the general public to claim ownership of the security of the country and willfully avail us with credible information that will assist in flushing out subversive and criminal elements from their hideouts and safe haven.

“Be rest assured that the Nigerian Army will continue to support the non-kinetic efforts of the civil authority to combat criminality and banditry as well as prevent it from gaining traction and spreading to other relatively peaceful regions of the country.

The COAS continued, “I wish to also appreciate our traditional rulers and religious leaders and further enjoin them to continue to support the NA with credible information that will assist in the professional conduct of our exercises and operations to rid the area of banditry and criminality.

“They are encouraged to continue to galvanize their subjects and followers to tow the path of peaceful resolution of conflicts rather than resulting to violence which does nobody any good. I use this medium to once again call on all religious leaders to pray for the success of our exercise and operations as well as pray for the total eradication of insecurity in our country.

“I must also commend officers and men of the NA for their display of courage and gallantry in dealing with the myriad of security challenges confronting the nation especially the insurgency in the North East, banditry in the North West and other forms of criminality in other parts of the country in a most professional manner. I want to re-assure you that the Nigerian Army leadership will continue to provide troops with all the equipment and necessary support to combat all of these menaces within available resources.

“I will also want to acknowledge and appreciate the support of the Nigeria Police and other security agencies for your excellent collaboration and cooperation with our troops. It is our hope that this synergy towards leveraging our collective security efforts would continue.

“I will like to appreciate the Executive Governors of Zamfara, Katsina and Sokoto States for the support rendered throughout the conduct of the first phase of Exercise Harbin Kunama III. Indeed, the successes so far achieved would not have been possible without your magnanimity to the NA.

“I will not end this address without expressing our immense gratitude to the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Muhammadu Buhari for his unflinching support to the NA. Indeed, Mr President’s continued support has significantly enhanced the combat effectiveness and morale of troops”.

END