Acting Army Chief Visits Sokoto on Maiden Operational Tour, Seeks Citizens’ Support

*NAF initiates new air interdiction, Farautar Mujiya in North-west to end banditry 

*Ndume says banks not operating in Borno’s nine LGAs 

*FG, senator train, empower 350 IDPs as PoS operators

Sunday Aborisade, Linus Aleke in Abuja and Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto

The acting Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Olufemi Oluyede, yesterday, visited 8 Division headquarters, Sokoto, on his maiden operational tour.
Addressing newsmen in Masallaci community, Tangaza Local Government Area, Oluyede called on the people of the community to always give accurate and timely information to the troops to help them in the fight against insecurity.

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), also yesterday, said the Air Component of Operation Fansan Yamma, had initiated a series of intense independent air interdiction missions to support the renewed drive by the armed forces to end banditry and eliminate all forms of criminality in the North-west.

Former Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, said the activities of Boko Haram terrorists had forced banks operating in about nine local government areas of Borno State to close down their operations.
In a statement, Ndume disclosed that current developments had made the federal government, through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, with his support, to devise a strategy to ameliorate the suffering of the people.

He said with his support the ministry, in collaboration with Mbeva Investment Nigeria Limited (MINL), had trained about 350 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and also empowered them with necessary tools to set up Point of Sales (POS) businesses.
The acting Chief of Army Staff was expected to visit the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, and other stakeholders in the state.
He visited and hold talks with troops of operation FASAN YANMA, as part of efforts to motivate troops in the discharge of their responsibilities.

He said on arrival in Sokoto, “I am here to see my soldiers, to access their state of readiness and to charge them to continue to do what they have been doing best so as to secure the country in general.”
On the presence of a new terror group, “Lukarawa” the army chief reiterated that there would always be challenges, but the issue was how to respond to the challenges.
He stated, “That is why I am here to see my people and prepare them for the challenges and that is what we will do.

“Let me call on the community people to continue to support us. Nigeria belongs to all of us and if we don’t get their support, we can’t succeed, which means the country will not be secured.
“We need the support of Nigerians so that we can have economic prosperity in the country.”
Oluyede visited troops in Illela Local Government Area of the state, where he held a meeting with officers of the battalion.

He also met with sister security agencies, where he emphasised the need to work in synergy.
Oluyede charged troops of Forward Operations Base Tangaza and 248 Battalion, Illela, to shun any form of complacency that could jeopardise ongoing operations to overcome the security challenges bedevilling the North-west. He called for renewed collaboration to end security challenges in the country.
A statement by Director, Army Public Relations, Maj-Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, said Oluyede spoke during his maiden operational tour of Sokoto State in the 8 Division Area of Responsibility.

Nwachukwu stated that on arriving Sokoto in the early hours of yesterday, the army chief proceeded to Forward Operations Base, Tangaza, and 248 Battalion in Illela, where he received briefs on the security situation by the General Officer Commanding 8 Division, Brigadier General Ibikunle Ajose.
Oluyede applauded them for their sacrifice and commitment in the ongoing fight against terrorism and insurgency in the North-west zone. He said he was on an operational tour to obtain first-hand information and assessment of the security situation and challenges of the troops.
The army chief assured the troops of his full support and encouragement to decisively deplete the activities of terrorists and insurgents in their respective areas of responsibility and the North-west zone.

NAF Initiates New Air Interdiction, Farautar Mujiya, in N’west to End Banditry

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said the Air Component of Operation Fansan Yamma had initiated a series of intense independent air interdiction missions to support the military’s renewed drive to end banditry and criminality in the North-west.

NAF also revealed that the focused campaign of air interdiction, codenamed Operation Farautar Mujiya, was operationalised with a series of high-impact night operations deep within the strongholds of notorious bandits across Zamfara and Kebbi states.

A statement by Director, Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Olusola Akinboyewa, revealed that the first wave of strikes was launched following confirmed intelligence about increased terrorist activities in areas identified as strongholds of notorious bandit warlords who had long terrorised local communities.

That was as the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) also disclosed that synchronised airstrikes by the air component of Operation Hadin Kai killed scores of terrorist fighters in their enclaves located at Kwallaram and Arainna Ciki islands in Borno State.

However, no fewer than six high-ranking officers and soldiers of the Republic of Chad were allegedly killed by Boko Haram terrorists, with several others wounded, during an ambush on troops of the Chadian armed forces at the weekend.
The NAF spokesperson said, “On 8 November 2024, using advanced surveillance and precision targeting, NAF assets executed a surprise aerial assault on multiple camps, including the strategic Sangeko location in Zamfara, near the Kebbi border, and Ado Aleiro’s heavily fortified enclave around Asola Hill in Tsafe Local Government Area.

“The strikes not only obliterated a major arms depot belonging to the infamous bandit leader, Ado Aleiro, but also neutralised many of his fighters. The precision bombardment sent shockwaves through the criminal networks, severely weakening their operational capabilities.
“Intelligence reports and Battle Damage Assessments confirmed the overwhelming impact of the strikes, which resonated throughout the night.”

Ndume: Banks Not Operating in 9 Borno LGAs

Ndume said Boko Haram terrorists had forced banks operating in about nine local government areas of Borno State to close down their operations.
He said over one decade of Boko Haram crisis had destroyed power and telecommunication facilities in the area.

Ndume said epileptic telecommunication network and power supply had economically affected the people in the nine local government areas of his constituency.
He said there was virtually no existing bank in any of the nine councils, except Biu town, with little functional banks.

The senator said the cashless policy and the ongoing electronic banking system had also caused many people in Southern Borno difficulty in their daily transactions and businesses.
Ndume, however, applauded President Bola Tinubu for the fulfilment of his “Renewed Hope Agenda”, saying the partnership with Mbeva Investment Nigeria Limited has helped to improve the lives of the vulnerable ones in society.