We’re stepping up operations to improve Nigeria’s security — COAS

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has assured that the Nigerian Army under his leadership would step up operations to further secure Katsina and Nigeria at large.

Gen Oluyede gave the assurance during a visit to the Acting Governor of Katsina, Alhaji Faruk Lawal Jobe, to commiserate with the government and people of the state over the recent banditry attacks in the State.

According to a statement made available to Defence Correspondents in Abuja on Thursday by the Acting Director Army Public Relations Lieutenant Colonel Apollonia Anele General Oluyede emphasised that immediate and improved measures would be put in place to ensure such unfortunate incidents, which resulted in the loss of lives and property, do not reoccur.

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The COAS appealed to the good people of Katsina to cooperate with security agencies in the collective effort to defeat bandits and make the Nigerian space safer for all citizens.

While receiving, the Acting Governor expressed appreciation for the COAS’s visit and assured the continued support of the government and people of Katsina to the Nigerian Army and other security agencies in their duty of securing the state.

The COAS recalled the state government’s heavy investment in the security sector and pledged to sustain such investments to rid the state of all forms of criminality.

Alhaji Faruk Lawal Jobe also lauded the efforts of Nigerian Army in mitigating security challenges in the state, noting with satisfaction their commitment to duty and timely response to distress calls.

He further appreciated the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his unwavering commitment to providing security for Katsina and Nigeria at large.

It added that as part of the COAS operational visit to Katsina State, under 8 Division/Sector 2 Operation FANSAN YAMMA, he was briefed by the Commander 17 Brigade, Brigadier General BO Omopariola, at Natsinta Barracks.

According to it, the briefing provided insights into the Brigade’s operational activities, challenges, and projections aimed at enhancing security in the state.

It added that the Brigade Commander assured the COAS of the continued dedication of his troops to intensify operations to better secure the state.

According to it, in his remarks, the COAS commended the Brigade for their efforts and urged them to make further sacrifices in securing the state and by extension, the nation. He assured them of enhanced logistics support to enable the troops to carry out their tasks seamlessly.

The COAS visited troops at the Forward Operating Base, Federal University Dutsinma.

He urged them to remain steadfast in securing the institution and its environs while denying bandits freedom of action.

General Oluyede also visited troops at the Forward Operating Base, Safana, where he charged the soldiers to intensify operations and deal decisively with bandits and other criminal elements within their area of responsibility.

At the Forward Operating Base, Malumfashi, the COAS further reiterated his earlier directive for troops to go all out to clear bandits and rid the state of all forms of criminality.

Lieutenant General Oluyede reassured troops of his commitment to improved welfare, while also providing the needed logistics support and operational platforms to enable them to perform their duties effectively.