President Bola Tinubu has pledged unwavering support for the Nigerian Army in its efforts to eliminate armed bandits in the country.
This assurance was given on Tuesday in Sokoto during an address to the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji at the 8 Division Headquarters in Sokoto State.
The President, represented by the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, who was joined by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, emphasized his deep concern for the nation’s security.
Matawalle mentioned that they were in Sokoto on the orders of President Tinubu, who had instructed the Ministry of Defence to bring all available resources to review the ongoing operations.
He also conveyed that the President was deeply troubled by the situation in the North West and, while in China, had summoned Matawalle and the Chief of Defence Staff to immediately drop whatever they were doing and head to Sokoto.
The Minister explained that the President had tasked them with overseeing the operations of the troops under the command of Operation Hadarin Daji, to evaluate their progress, ensure they had the necessary support, and bolster their efforts to combat the criminals.
Matawalle further stated that Nigeria is governed by the Constitution, not by lawlessness. He said that President Tinubu was fully aware of the security challenges in the North, which is why he appointed a security team primarily composed of individuals from the region, including himself and the Defence Minister.
He highlighted that the President had selected northerners for key positions because he recognized that security was their foremost concern. Matawalle pointed out that he is from Zamfara State, the Chief of Defence is from Kaduna State, the Minister of Defence, Badaru, is from Jigawa State, the National Security Adviser is from Adamawa State, and the Minister of State for Police Affairs is also from the North.
The Minister also addressed the troops, urging them to stay focused despite recent setbacks, notably referring to the killing of four soldiers and the destruction of two MRAPs by bandits led by Bello Turji. He assured them that the GOC would receive robust support and encouraged them to continue their excellent work, stating that they were there to back them in eliminating bandits and criminals in the region.
Additionally, the Minister visited injured soldiers in the hospital, assuring them that the Federal Government stood with them during these challenging times.
