Army Chief Oluyede Visits Katsina After Killings, Vows to Crush Bandits

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has visited Katsina State in the wake of recent killings and pledged that the Nigerian Army will flush out bandits and other criminal groups terrorising farming communities across the state.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede

Speaking during an operational visit to Katsina yesterday, General Oluyede said the Army remains fully committed to ending banditry, insurgency, and other forms of criminality destabilising Katsina and other North-West states.

While addressing the acting Governor of Katsina, Hon. Faruk Lawal, and senior government officials at the Government House, the Army Chief promised to resolve the state’s security challenges “as soon as possible.”

READ ALSO:Rights Group Scores CJN Kekere-Ekun’s First Year Low

Oluyede condemned last week’s bandit attack on Mantau community in Malumfashi Local Government Area, describing it as “unfortunate and deeply saddening.” He stressed that the perpetrators were enemies operating within communities and vowed they would be tracked down and eliminated.

“We register our condolences to the government and people of Katsina over the recent loss of lives. It is sad, but it has further strengthened our resolve to secure our people,” Oluyede said.

“The enemies are within. We must work together to fish them out and deal with them decisively. The Nigerian Army will not relent until Katsina and the entire country are safe.”

He urged residents of the state to support military operations by providing credible intelligence, noting that fighting insurgency requires synergy between security agencies, government, and local communities.

In his response, Acting Governor Lawal called on the Army Chief to deploy more troops and military equipment to frontline communities, while also appealing to residents to cooperate with security forces in the battle against banditry.