The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has given troops a one-month deadline to eliminate key bandit leaders, including Bello Turji. The directive was issued during his visit to troops of Operation Hadarin Daji in Gusau, Zamfara State, on Thursday.
General Oluyede’s visit marks his first official tour since assuming office. He met with soldiers engaged in the fight against terrorists and urged them to intensify efforts to restore peace in the Northwest region and the country at large.
During his address, the Army Chief acknowledged the troops’ achievements in neutralizing several notorious bandits but stressed that more work needed to be done. He noted that eliminating remaining high-profile criminals was crucial to ensuring stability and development in the region.
To support the fight against banditry, Oluyede assured soldiers that they would receive necessary resources, including improved logistics and welfare. However, he reminded them of the urgency of their mission, stating, “You must deliver on the ongoing war against banditry in your area of operations.”
He further added, “We will give you all the necessary support in whatever way you need to enable you to succeed in the fight against banditry. Just do your best and eliminate those recalcitrant bandit leaders like Bello Turji and others.”
Despite the military’s commitment, Oluyede pointed out that security forces could not win the war alone. He called on the public to assist by providing timely and credible intelligence to help track and eliminate criminal elements.
“I want to use this opportunity to call on Nigerians to collaborate with the troops by providing them with credible and timely information to flush out the bandits within the zone,” he stated.
