President Buhari Orders New Military Operations In Katsina Against Bandits

President Muhammadu Buhari has authorised a new military operation against armed bandits and kidnappers terrorising the people of Katsina State.

Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, confirmed this in a statement in Abuja on Sunday.

He said, “A major proactive operation by Special Forces, which details are being kept secret, is now in progress to replace the reactive strikes against insurgent camps.

”To give a full effect to the exercise, a planning team is already in the state selecting targets and making preparations for the execution of the unprecedented operation.

“The Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin, who has been measured in issuing official statements on the oncoming exercise, briefed the President on the plan he intends to flag off shortly,” he said.

In July 2019, President Buhari ordered military reinforcement to strengthen security in Katsina State to avoid violence between herdsmen and communities.

The order followed an initial instruction to the security chiefs in May 2019, to investigate the operation of armed bandits and put in place structures to prevent future occurrence.

Subsequently, the military headquarters reorganized Operation Sharan Daji to Hadarin Daji and intensified both ground and air operations against bandits.

Relative peace and calm were experienced as a result of military operations and a renewed dialogue and peace initiative with bandits and Fulani leaders by the Katsina state government.

However, a resurgence of violence has forced the Federal Government to resume and restrategize military operations in the State.