The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Abubakar Badaru, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to addressing banditry and insecurity across Nigeria during a visit to Governor Uba Sani at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House in Kaduna on Thursday night.
The visit was part of his official tour of the North-West zone and aimed to finalize preparations for the launch of ‘Operation Fansan Yamma,’ a joint military theatre command designed to combat insecurity in the region.
Speaking to journalists after the visit, Abubakar highlighted the establishment of a Command and Control Centre in the North-West zone as a key measure to combat banditry.
“The president has charged us to be innovative and find lasting solutions to this security problem. We’re working hard to ensure its success,” he said.
The minister also discussed the government’s cooperation with neighboring countries, particularly Niger Republic, to fight terrorism and curb arms trafficking.
“We are working closely with the military, security agencies, and neighbouring countries to tackle terrorism, banditry, and arms trafficking. The Minister of State for Defence recently visited Sokoto to gather recommendations, and the Chief of Defence Staff met with the Nigerien government to discuss collaborative efforts,” Abubakar explained.
Addressing the security concerns in Sokoto and its border areas with Niger Republic, Abubakar acknowledged the challenges but assured that proactive measures were being taken.
“It’s a real concern, but we are not unaware of the situation. We are working hard to tackle it. The collaboration with Niger will help combat the movement of terrorists, arms, and ammunition,” he said.
He reassured Nigerians of the president’s commitment to ensuring peace and stability across the country.
“The president is committed to ending insecurity in Nigeria. We’re working tirelessly to ensure peace and stability. I assure Nigerians that we’ll tackle these challenges, and by God’s grace, we’ll succeed,” the Minister stated.
Governor Sani, while welcoming the Minister, emphasized the importance of regional cooperation in combating insecurity.
“We must establish a Command and Control Centre to coordinate our joint efforts against terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, and other criminal elements in our region. We must also amplify support to our security forces, enhance our localized intelligence systems, stimulate investment in agriculture and agri-business, expand rural infrastructure, broaden access to education and healthcare, and promote inclusivity among all our citizens,” he said.
Sani expressed his gratitude to the Federal Government for its efforts in tackling the complex security issues in the North-West Zone and highlighted the severe impact of insecurity on the region.
“We are grateful for the Federal Government’s commitment to addressing the multidimensional challenges of insecurity confronting the North-West Zone. This initiative is timely and strategic, and we believe it will significantly improve food security, school enrollment, healthcare delivery, and the rural economy in general. Insecurity has had a debilitating effect on all facets of life in the North-West. Our zone, which is the food basket of Nigeria, now faces the challenge of food insecurity. Our people cannot access health facilities. Most of our children are out of school due to the activities of criminals with scant regard for human life and dignity. Poverty has worsened. Fear pervades our zone,” he lamented.
However, the governor expressed optimism that the upcoming “Operation Fansan Yamma” would create a conducive environment for investments and economic growth in the region.
“With this development, there will be significant improvements in food security, school enrollment, access to healthcare delivery services, and the rural economy in general. It will further create an enabling environment for investments, economic growth, and revival of infrastructural projects which were stalled due to insecurity,” he said.
The governor also recommended that Operation Safe Haven in Southern Kaduna be reassigned to the 1 Division in Kaduna instead of the 3rd Division in Jos, Plateau State, for operational efficiency.
“I suggest that Operation Safe Haven in Southern Kaduna be reassigned to 1 Division in Kaduna for operational and administrative convenience,” he said.
Sani commended the progress made in setting up Operation Safe Corridor (North-West) and emphasized the importance of a robust collaborative framework to combat insecurity.
“We understand and appreciate the need for a strong collaborative framework towards tackling challenges of insecurity. We have nurtured a strong collaborative framework with security agencies, along with streamlined intelligence gathering and strategic coordination of security-related matters in Kaduna State,” he said.
He also praised President Bola Tinubu’s continuous support for the North-West Zone, expressing gratitude to the Defence Minister, Chief of Defence Staff, and Military High Command for their assistance.
“We appreciate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s uncommon and sustained support to the North-West Zone. He has shown courage in adversity. We are grateful to him for always listening to us and taking practical steps to actualise our recommendations,” he added.
