Banditry: Matawalle visits Sokoto again, says FG winning war

The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, visited Sokoto State on Wednesday as part of the Federal Government’s renewed efforts to combat banditry and terrorism in the North-West region.

Wednesday’s visit, on the order of President Bola Tinubu, followed the first one undertaken by the minister on August 31 in company with the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Christopher Musa.

Speaking to newsmen on Wednesday, Matawalle reiterated the Federal Government’s committment to ending the scourge of banditry in the North-West.

‘’As directed by Mr President, I am back for the second time in Sokoto State to  coordinate this gigantic assignment in order to flush out all the bandits and other criminals.

‘’We have recorded some level of achievements, particularly the killing of notorious gang leaders and group members at different places and relative peace has so far been recorded specifically in Sokoto, Zamfara and Katsina states.

‘’I am optimistic that our gallant troops will sustain the strides and continue to record success through the ‘Fansan Yamma’ operations that are going on in the fight against these criminals in the North-West, ‘’ Matawalle said.

He said the Federal Government would sustain the onslaught until the North-West and the entire country was rid of criminals.

‘’We will never leave you alone and assured that we will win this war against bandits and those supporting them to unleash terror against the people.

‘’The Federal Fovernment will continue to boost the morale of soldiers and other security agencies by supporting them to bring an end to these challenges.

‘’We appreciate the sacrifices and the gallant fight against insecurity by our teeming military personnel and other security agencies, ‘’ the minister added.

He commended Sokoto State Governor, Ahmad Aliyu, for his support to the security agencies and called for on other North-West governors to collaborate with the Federal Government in the fight against insecurity.

‘’We must collaborate to bring these bandits down through the use of kinetic and non-kinetic methods to crush them entirely.

‘’We will never be intimidated, rest or allow the criminals any breathing space. We must stop them from moving freely; we will never succumb to their blackmail, propaganda and mischief against our operations. We will never be distracted from securing the lives and property of our people,” he added.