By Awwal Umar Kontagora Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has called for the establishment of Forward Operating Bases (...
By Awwal Umar Kontagora
Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has called for the establishment of Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) to prevent armed miscreants from entering the state from neighbouring regions.
Governor Bago made the suggestion during a courtesy visit by Maj. Gen. Warrah Idris, Theatre Commander of the Joint Taskforce North West, Operation Fansan Yamma, and his team in Minna, the state capital. He stressed that FOBs are particularly needed in Mailaka and Kurege in the Mariga Local Government Area.
The governor also requested the recruitment of 25,000 Nigerlites as soldiers to support efforts to tackle insecurity. “We are willing as a state to help recruit 25,000 youths to go after these criminals,” he said.
Expressing concern over assets neglected in Kainji Lake National Park and other areas in Borgu Local Government due to bandit activities, Governor Bago described these locations as safe havens for criminals. He expressed optimism that Operation Fansan Yamma will soon end the menace.
He commended the efforts of the military and other security agencies in curbing insecurity in parts of the state and appealed for the deployment of more equipment and air support, given the vastness of Niger State. The governor also highlighted non-kinetic strategies employed by his administration to maintain peace and assured Maj. Gen. Idris and his team of full support and cooperation.
Maj. Gen. Warrah Idris explained that he commands Sectors 1, 2, and 3, with one sector covering parts of Niger State. He said the purpose of his visit was to familiarize himself with all locations under his command, assess the situation and terrain, and boost the morale of his troops.
He reaffirmed that the mandate given by the Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Defence Staff, and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is to ensure the security of Nigerian citizens. “We are here to ensure that the task is executed to the last limit. We are here to eradicate banditry, terrorism, and other crimes,” Maj. Gen. Idris emphasized.
The Theatre Commander noted that assessments have been conducted and maps will soon be released for necessary operations. He confirmed that ongoing operations in Kainji Lake National Park and Babana, among other areas in Borgu, aim to flush out and neutralize bandits in the region.
Operation Fansan Yamma is a joint military theatre command established by the federal government to tackle insecurity across the North-West and parts of North-Central Nigeria.
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