From Umar Danladi Ado, Sokoto
The Federal Government of Nigeria has reopened 8 years closed Marnona-Gundumi-Isa road in Sokoto State and said three military formations will be established to end banditry in the state.
The Minister of State Defense, Dr Bello Mohammed Matawalle, on Thursday, led military personnel to reopen the road along with other abandoned roads and interacted with members of different communities in Isa, Sabon Birni and Goronyo local government areas.
The reopened roads were abandoned due to security challenges and the successes were part of the achievements in the ongoing operations in the Northwest.
He explained that he was in Sokoto for the second time to lead another onslaught against bandits, terrorists and other criminals in Northwest states.
”As directed by President Bola Tinubu, I am back in Sokoto state to coordinate this assignment of flushing all bandits and other criminals.
”We have recorded successes, Our troops killed notorious gang leaders and group members in different places. Relative peace has so far been restored specifically in Sokoto, Zamfara and Katsina States.
”I am optimistic that our gallant troops will sustain the strides and continue to record success through the operation which is ongoing in the fight against these criminals, ” Matawalle said.
He underscored the importance of collaboration with the federal government in the fight to achieve the targeted goals.
”We must collaborate to bring these bandits down through the use of kinetic and non-kinetic methods to crush them entirely.
”We are calling for support from our governors, religious, political and community leaders toward achieving the desired success on the task ahead,” he said.
While he visited some deserted settlements, the Minister called residents to return as the government is fully committed to safeguarding their lives and properties.
He warned the residents against acting as informants to bandits, which he described as the same crime and aiding banditry to continue stressing that all informants caught would be dealt with accordingly.
Jubilant residents along Isa, Sabon Birni and Goronyo trooped to welcome the Minister’s entourage that followed through towns and villages in over an hour’s journey of visit, something that has long been forgotten in the troubled areas of eastern Sokoto state.
Speaking during the visit, the Chairman of Isa local government area, Alhaji Sharifu Kamarawa, commended the Minister for the visit, which would surely boost the morale of troops and restore hope to the communities.
Kamarawa said residents have faced enormous challenges; however, with the present operation, normalcy has been restored and they urged the Minister to redeploy more security operatives.
In Sabon Birni and Goronyo, the local government chairmen, Alhaji and Alhaji Zubairu Yari, expressed appreciation for the Minister’s visits and appealed for more support to residents.
A cross-section of community members disclosed that bandits were earlier ruling vast areas, enforcing regulations and levies; however, due to the operations, bandits camps have disapproved and appealed for military presence in the areas.
It was reported that areas visited included Gidan Duro, Marnona, Gidan Sule, Tudun Bale, Mailalle, Tsamaye, and Chori Mayal, among other communities.
Newsmen recalled that President Tinubu on Aug. 31, ordered Matawalle and other military chiefs to move to Sokoto state to rid the Northwest region of activities of bandits, kidnappers and terrorists.
The federal government said the relocation, is part of an intensified effort to rid the region of the menace of banditry, kidnapping and terrorism.Compose Message
