"We will chase bandits out of Sokoto" – Governor Bello Matawalle takes vows

The Federal Government, through the Minister of Defence, Dr Bello Matawalle, has promised to put an end to bandits and other criminal gangs terrorising the North West.

This comes amid the arrival of the Minister of Defence, Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, General Christopher Musa and other senior military officials in Sokoto on Tuesday, with the aim of leading a military assault against the bandits and other criminals plaguing the North-West region.

Gistmania recalls that the Federal Government last Friday directed the military to relocate its command structure to Sokoto State, to tackle the increasing banditry activities and urged the CDS to oversee efforts to end banditry-ridden communities in the North-West.

The Minister and his delegation, including the Chief of Defence Intelligence, CDI, and other senior military officers, were received upon arrival by the General Officer Commanding, GOC, 8 Division, Brigadier General IA Ajose, and the Commander, Joint Task Force North West, Operation Hadarin Daji.

Speaking after a closed-door meeting with the Operational Commanders of the Joint Operation Hadarin Daji at the 8 Division Headquarters, Sokoto, Matawalle, he said the Ministry of Defence would provide all necessary support and encouragement to the troops in the war against terrorists in the North-West.

According to him, “We are in Sokoto in line with the presidential directive to eradicate terrorists and other criminal gangs terrorizing North-West. I am optimistic that the operation will put an end to Bello Turji and all others who are causing sleepless nights to the citizens of the region.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is in China for an official meeting, has called the Minister of Defence and the Chief of Defence Staff and ordered them to move to the headquarters of the 8th Nigerian Army in Sokoto to hunt down criminals terrorising the North-Western sub-region.”

Addressing troops of the 8 Division Headquarters at Giginya Barracks in Sokoto, the Minister said they would continue to cooperate in the fight against bandits and other criminals terrorizing the North-West geopolitical region.