The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Abubakar, has reiterated the Federal Government’s determination to address the growing insecurity in the Northwest, with a focus on combating banditry and terrorism.
Speaking during a courtesy visit to Governor Uba Sani at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House in Kaduna, the minister outlined the government’s plans as part of his official tour of the region.
The visit was centered on final preparations for the launch of Operation Fansan Yamma, a joint military theatre command aimed at tackling insecurity in the North-West zone.
Abubakar highlighted the establishment of a Command and Control Centre as a key strategy in confronting banditry and criminal activities in the region.
“The president has charged us to be innovative and find lasting solutions to this security problem. We’re working hard to ensure its success,” Abubakar told journalists following his meeting with the governor.
He further emphasized the government’s collaborative efforts with neighboring countries, particularly Niger Republic, to curb terrorism, banditry, and arms trafficking.
“We are working closely with the military, security agencies, and neighboring countries to tackle terrorism, banditry, and arms trafficking.
The Minister of State for Defence recently visited Sokoto to gather recommendations, and the Chief of Defence Staff met with the Nigerien government to discuss collaborative efforts,” he added.
Addressing security concerns around Sokoto and its borders with Niger, Abubakar acknowledged the challenges but assured Nigerians that the government was taking proactive measures.
“It’s a real concern, but we are not unaware of the situation. We are working hard to tackle it. The collaboration with Niger will help combat the movement of terrorists, arms, and ammunition,” he said.
He also reassured Nigerians of the government’s resolve to end insecurity. “The president is committed to ending insecurity in Nigeria. We’re working tirelessly to ensure peace and stability. I assure Nigerians that we’ll tackle these challenges, and by God’s grace, we’ll succeed,” he concluded.
In his remarks, Governor Uba Sani underscored the importance of regional collaboration to address the escalating security crisis. “We must establish a Command and Control Centre to coordinate our joint efforts against terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, and other criminal elements in our region,” he said.
The governor also highlighted the devastating impact of insecurity on the North-West, particularly in areas such as food security, healthcare, and education.
“Insecurity has had a debilitating effect on all facets of life in the North-West. Our zone, which is the food basket of Nigeria, now faces the challenge of food insecurity.
Our people cannot access health facilities, and many of our children are out of school due to the activities of criminals,” he lamented.
Despite the challenges, Sani expressed optimism about the upcoming Operation Fansan Yamma, believing it would create an environment conducive to economic growth and investment in the region.
“With this development, there will be significant improvements in food security, school enrollment, access to healthcare delivery services, and the rural economy in general,” he stated.
The governor also proposed that Operation Safe Haven in Southern Kaduna be reassigned from the 3rd Division in Jos, Plateau State, to the 1st Division in Kaduna for better operational efficiency.
Additionally, he commended progress on the setup of Operation Safe Corridor (North-West) and emphasized the need for continued collaboration with security agencies to streamline intelligence gathering and strengthen security coordination in the region.
Sani thanked President Bola Tinubu, the Minister of Defence, and the military leadership for their continued support of the North-West Zone, saying, “We appreciate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s uncommon and sustained support. He has shown courage in adversity and has always listened to our recommendations.”
