Nigerian Army To Intensify Offensive On Terrorist Groups In Northwest
The Chief Army Staff (COAS), Lt.- Gen. Tukur Buratai, is in Katsina State on operational tour of military formations and to coordinate activities of the new Operation Sahel Sanity, designed to target armed groups terrorising parts of the Northwest zone.
Buratai visited 17 Brigade, Katsina; 171 Battalion, Daura; Special Forces Camp in Batsari and the proposed military barracks’ site in Daura.
He also paid a courtesy call on Governor Aminu Bello Masari; the Emir of Daura, Dr Farouk Umar Usman, and the District Head of Batsari, Alhaji Tukur Mu’azu.
‘‘I came here two days ago and we will be here for some time to coordinate activities of the troops here in order to get some succour and also be able to resolve some of the challenges,’’ the COAS told the governor during a courtesy call on him.
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Col. Sagir Musa, the Acting Director, Army Public Relation, in a release stated that “The army chief, used the opportunity of his Operations tour to the Battalion to pay a courtesy call on the Emir of Daura, Dr Umar Farouk Umar, CON, at his palace in the ancient city of Daura.
Buratai informed the emir that he had visited 171 Battalion and had been fully briefed on the combat readiness of the troops and the security situation in Daura and environs, Musa said.
“He assured the Emirate Council and the people of Nigeria the renewed vigour and determination of the Nigerian Army to tackle the security challenges in the Northwest and the country as a whole.
” He said his visit was in response to the concerns occasioned by the recent banditry activities in different parts of the region and Katsina State, in particular,” the army spokesman stated.
He added that Buratai further stated that – ‘Already, the Nigerian Army has commenced reorganisation of its operations across Nigeria and that senior officers of the service were in the state to fully implement the clear directive of President Muhammadu Buhari to effectively checkmate the security challenges in the country.’
Attacks by armed gangs in Katsina, Zamfara, Kebbi and Sokoto states in recent times have displaced over 200,000 people, with 60,000 refugees fleeing to Maradi, Niger Republic.
