COAS orders army to rid Kwara, Niger of insurgency in one month
By Dele Moses, Ilorin
Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has ordered that Bruten and Kaiama local government areas of Kwara State and Borgu in Kainji forest in Niger State be rid of banditry and insurgency in the next one month.
Oluyede directed the army to chase out bandits in the areas and make sure that no part was under the control of criminals.
The Army Chief gave the directive on Wednesday while addressing the troop at the 22 Armoured Brigade, Sobi Cantonment, Ilorin, Kwara State.
There had been reports that an insurgent group known as “Mahmuda” recently surfaced in Buruten and Kaiama local government areas just as seven people were reportedly killed by yet to be identified attackers in Baruten
Oluyede said that the Nigerian Army would not allow insurgency in the north east to spread to the north central states of Kwara and Niger among others.
He said that the Nigerian Army owed it a duty to remain committed to its responsibility of protecting the territorial integrity of the nation by not allowing any part of the country to fall under the control of insurgents.
“No single part of the territory would be allowed to integrate or be taken away by insurgents in any form either in form of bandits or Boko Haram or whatever name they may call it.
“I’m giving you one month from now to recover all territory in Baruten, Kaiama and other areas in Kainji forest to the territorial integrity of Nigeria.
“All of you have promised to fight and recover whatever the insurgents might have taken from the country and I believe you will keep the promise.
“The country was having some challenges and we have to push the insurgents out of the country. In the next one month, I don’t want to see any one of the insurgents in our borders again,” he stated.
The army boss said he was going round the nation to ensure better security of the country.
He promised better welfare, feeding, education, facilities and uniform for members of the Armed Forces.
He said: “I want to see soldiers become good medical doctors, engineers and other professionals.
“We have tried to intervene in providing uniforms with provision of 100,000 units of uniform per month while N1billion was being allocated to feeding for the soldiers on monthly basis and we have also improved the accomodation facilities.”
