The Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai has given the soldiers deployed to the Birnin Gwari area of Kaduna state 3-week ultimatum to wipe out the armed bandits in the area.
Mr Buratai, who gave the order while addressing troops at the official flag-off of the Operation ‘Idon Raini’ at the proposed site of the Battalion at Birnin-Gwari, said that he must receive a very resounding result that will finally bring the criminals to their knees.
“We are no longer going to adopt the defensive approach, it must be offensive. Since the battle has been brought to you, you must take it back and crush them wherever they are.
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“The killings must stop, the wanton destructions of properties must stop, not only within Kaduna state but across the country.
“In the next two, three weeks, there must be a very resounding result that will bring these criminals to their kneels finally. They must be wiped out.
“They are not coming from the moon, or coming from outer space, they are within this territory. I don’t know why you cannot go to where they are and get them fished out.
“Am happy with the initiative of the General Officer Commanding 1 Division and all the commanders for the new approach and I want to see a decisive result at the end of this operation.
“The commanders have briefed me thoroughly of your challenges and be rest assured we have already started addressing some of these challenges.
“We must respond decisively and commanders must be personally held responsible for any lapse, they must decide and take appropriate action, and anything outside that, they must be held responsible.
“The next deployment must commence immediately. Other areas of logistic support, your welfare, be rest assured we will do our best to provide for you,” Mr Buratai said.
Receiving the chief of army staff at his palace, the Emir of Birnin-Gwari, Zubairu Jibril Mai Gwari II expressed confidence in the army, saying with full military deployment, the bandits can be wiped out within a short period.
He said: “These people, the bandits cannot be contained by mounting of roadblock or staying on the road, so the security operatives have to take the fight to them in the bush otherwise they will continue to unleash mayhem.
“There are some special forces that came recently and performed wonderfully well, please the Chief of Army Staff should bring them back.
“So if you bring these boys back and even superior officers and personnel, am sure you will finish them on time, because this is not Sambisa forest. And since the Chief of Army Staff is here, were are sure this thing will come to an end,” the Emir said.
