President Muhammadu Buhari Saturday in Katsina, Katsina State, charged the military to be more spontaneous in restoring peace to the country, particularly states troubled by bandits, ordering them โnot to spare banditsโโ that have been killing, maiming and extorting innocent citizens.
Addressing 15 officers and 160 soldiers of the 17th Army Brigade and Nigerian Air Force 213 Operational Base in Katsina, under the โOperation Hadarin Dajiโโ, at the Umaru Musa YarโAdua Airport, President Buhari, said:
โThis group was formed by the military to secure the geo-political zone from the activities of bandits. Fundamentally, it is your responsibility to secure the country.
โAs the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, I believe you are capable of doing it. I donโt think you should spare any bandit. Identify and eliminate them. Pursue them anywhere you can find them and eliminate them,โโ he said.
โNigeria deserves peace. The rainy season is good and we are already achieving food security, but we need peace. The money saved from food importation will be used to purchase arms for operations,โโ he said.
The President, flanked by Governor Aminu Bello Masari, assured the troops that the Federal Government will provide all the necessary support for restoration of peace in the country.
โWe will give you all the right equipment so that you can deal with them with despatch. I appreciate all your efforts but you can do more. I donโt want any bandit spared,โโ he added.
President Buhari said the government and all officials were being sustained in office by the ordinary people, and they owe the people a duty to protect their lives and property.
โPlease give my regards to your families. The earlier you finish with the bandits, the earlier you will return and stay with your families,โโ he said.