On the Recent Elimination of Katsina Bandit Warlords
By Mukhtar Ya’u Madobi
Recently, there was palpable tension among residents living around the environs of the nation’s capital city, Abuja, as a result of increased activities of non-state actors.
First, it was the Kuje medium custodial center that got invaded by ISWAP terrorists who freed their detained commanders. This was followed up by twin attacks on the presidential brigade guards in Bwari and the attack on a military checkpoint at Zuma rock, close to the Federal Capital Territory.
Apart from that, some series of rampaging terror activities have occurred in Taraba, Plateau, Katsina, Niger, and Kaduna States, where bandits have killed many residents and abducted a score of others.
As a result, President Muhammadu Buhari had on August 3, directed security agencies to smoke out all identified terrorists and criminals who have been unleashing violence on several communities across the country.
Buhari, through his spokesman, Garba Shehu gave this marching order to the nation’s security chiefs to end this carnage while paying his condolences to those who lost their loved ones in the recent barbaric terrorist attacks in Sokoto, Kaduna and Plateau States respectively.
“We have given security forces full freedom to deal with, and bring to end this madness,” Buhari was quoted saying in the statement.
Similarly, the Leadership of the Senate has also met with the service chiefs over the security crisis in the country. The bi-partisan closed-door meeting with the Service Chiefs is aimed at reviewing the current security strategies and discussing new solutions.
The President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawal commended the Service Chiefs for their relentless efforts towards securing the nation, but however charged them to come up with alternative solutions aimed at surmounting the security challenges currently bedeviling the nation.
Therefore, as part of strategies to combat terrorism in Nigeria, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) had recently launched an offensive operation called ‘Operation Show no Mercy’.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, while launching the operation at a meeting with NAF operational commanders in various theaters of operations, tasked the senior air troops to deal with the menace with reloaded efforts and ensure that they employ maximum firepower against the terrorists.
Amao said launching an offensive operation against the adversaries would deny the terrorists freedom of movement, adding that it would also boost the confidence of the populace and ensure a peaceful country.
“I, therefore, charge you to show no mercy against any terrorist and their accomplices while also denying them the freedom of movement and ease to cause mayhem against innocent Nigerians.
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”We have a responsibility to secure our nation and give our citizens a sense of hope, trust and belonging. Therefore, we must ensure that we stay ahead of the enemy and envisage his next line of action.” Amao said.
It is heartwarming to learnt that this gallantry efforts by the men of NAF has finally begun yielding the much anticipated success, as the terrorists were now been decimated as a result of the superior fire power of Nigerian military.
Because, after months of evading security forces, a notorious armed bandit, Alhaji Abdulkareem Lawal, and 27 others among his syndicate have been eliminated by aggressive bombardments of the Nigerian military airstrikes in Katsina State, on Saturday evening.
Abdulkareem Lawal, who is popularly called Abdulkareem Boss, by his criminal colleagues, PRNigeria gathered, was a high-valued target on the radar of the Nigerian Military and other security agencies for a while due to his role in masterminding terror attacks including animal rustlings and kidnap for ransom across Nigeria.
It was learnt that, the notorious bandits’ warlord, Boss, was known to regularly invite terrorist groups from other areas and regions to join him in attacks on targets.
Specifically, the late criminal was part of the terrorist group that carried out attacks that eventually led to the death of the Nigerian Police Area Commander of Dutsin Ma, ACP Aminu Umar Dayi on 5 July, 2022.
In a related development, similar bombardments were also conducted on terrorists’ hideouts around Abuja in order to get rid of all criminals who are threatening the enjoyed peace of the nation’s capital.
Credible intelligence revealed that, threats within Abuja was being orchestrated by terrorists from their hideouts within Kaduna, Niger and Zamfara States.
“In view of this, NAF aircraft under Operation Whirl Punch were dispatched to undertake intensive air interdiction operation to degrade/neutralize the terrorists within their identified hideouts in Giwa, Birnin Gwari, Kajuru and Chikun LGA in Kaduna State and Kusasu, Kwaki and Kukere LGA in Niger State.
“So far, the identified locations hit by NAF aircraft include Jan Birni, Kusasu, Kauwuri, Kwaki, Ukambo Hill within the Kwiambana Forest as well as Alhaji Chorki Location.
“These locations have been attacked decisively and were struck in successive passes until they went into flames, some casualties who were spotted to be struggling to scamper for safety were effectively mopped up,” a military air commander told PRNigeria.
With this renewed sustained efforts by the gallant Nigerian Military in collaboration with other security agencies, coupled with the invisible work of Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), that gathers intelligence for the Military, it is evident that the days for these non-state actors who have been wreaking havoc on our communities are inevitably numbered.
Therefore, it is only a matter of time that Nigeria will soon get rid of all its security challenges. Till then, all what the citizens can do is to support, massively, the officers and men in the forefront of protecting the country’s territorial integrity, most especially.
Mukhtar is a Staff Writer with the Emergency Digest.
