Writing By Ismai’l Adamu ; Editing By Godwin Duru
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has urged communities residing in troubled areas in Katsina State to support the Nigerian Army and sister agencies in the ongoing fight against banditry in the state.
Gen. Oluyede made the plea when he paid a working visit to the Katsina State Acting Governor at the Government House in Katsina at the wake of last week’s deadly attacks by bandits in Malumfashi Local Government Area of the state.
The Army Chief who was in the state for an operational visit to Army formations in the frontline local government areas, said he was at the Government House to discuss with the Acting Governor on ways to improve synergy between the state government and the Nigerian Army in the anti-banditry operations.
“I am here to seek support from the Katsina State government and people, primarily in the area of intelligence gathering, I have had discussions with the Acting Governor and I want to assure you that we will do our best to secure Katsina State and the entire nation.
“We are fighting our own people, the enemy is within and it is necessary for us to fish out these enemies of the state and deal with them decisively.
“Mr President, based on my personal conversations with him, is very ready to make Nigeria safer but security is a collective responsibility. 300,000 people in uniform cannot do much, I hereby appeal to our people to support us more, and together we can make Nigeria safer.
“The Nigerian Army is the people’s Army, it is our Army, it is your Army, therefore supporting us should not be a big deal, it should come effortlessly so that we could secure Nigeria better”, Gen Oluyede said.
In his remarks, the Katsina State Acting Governor, Alhaji Faruk Jobe, expressed appreciation to the officers and men of the Nigerian Army and sister agencies for their various sacrifices in the fight against banditry in the state.
He however appealed for more deployments in terms of personnel and military hardware , while assuring the Army Chief that the state government will mobilize greater public support and cooperation from the communities at the frontlines.
Isma’il Adamu
