The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has directed army troops deployed in Baruten and Kaiama Local Government Areas of Kwara State, as well as the Borgu area in Kainji Forest, Niger State, to eliminate bandits operating in those regions within one month.
General Oluyede issued the directive on Wednesday while addressing soldiers at the 22 Armoured Brigade, Sobi Cantonment in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital. His order follows recent reports of attacks, including the emergence of a new terrorist group called “Mahmuda” in parts of Kwara State and the killing of seven people by unidentified assailants in Ilesha Baruba, Baruten LGA.
Reaffirming the military’s commitment to national security, Oluyede warned that insurgent activity in the northeast must not be allowed to spread to the north-central zone. “It is the responsibility of the Nigerian Army to protect the territorial integrity of the nation,” he declared.
He emphasized that no part of Nigeria would be surrendered to insurgents or criminal groups. “Whether they are called bandits, Boko Haram, or any other name, we will not allow them to take any part of our land,” he said.
Oluyede ordered the troops to recover all occupied territories in Baruten, Kaiama, and the Kainji forest within a month. “All of you have pledged to defend this country, and I trust that you will fulfill that promise,” he added.
The Army Chief, who is currently touring military formations across the country, assured troops of improved welfare, including better feeding, uniforms, and educational opportunities. He revealed that 100,000 units of military uniforms are now being supplied monthly, with N1 billion allocated for soldiers’ feeding each month, alongside enhanced accommodation.
He concluded by stating that he expects total clearance of insurgents from the affected regions within the given timeline, saying, “In the next one month, I don’t want to see any one of the insurgents in our borders again.”
Edited by Nzubechukwu Eze.
