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• Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle and Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Christopher Musa, one of the injured officers at Military Hospital, 8 Div, Sokoto
Residents of Sokoto State have widely commended the Federal Government over its recent directives on the relocation of the Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Matawalle, and other military chiefs to the Sokoto axis over insecurity.
In separate interviews conducted by Arewa PUNCH in Sokoto on Sunday, a cross-section of the residents who spoke hailed the FG’s move which they noted was not only strategic, timely and deft but which they equally stressed indicated its commitment and readiness to fine lasting solutions to the menace.
Garba Mailambu, a trader, said the directive has manifested FG’s intensified effort to rid the North West of the menace of banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism.
He said “such a strategic, deft, and timely directive was expected during the last regime, “The deployment of necessary military assets and manpower would ensure that these criminal elements were flushed out and the peace was restored to our communities.”
While urging the personnel to live up to expectations, he also called on the residents, especially those living in the affected settlements, to cooperate with personnel and support the presence and movements.
Also speaking, Dr Habibu Ahmed, an academician with the Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto, described the order given by Minister Matawalle as a relief and of great service to humanity, especially during this insecurity escalation situation in some states of the North west.
“The man is a good strategist who understands the trends and is familiar with the tactics of bandits and other insurgents, especially in my state.
“He did very well in his fight against insurgents during his tenure in our state and region many times before becoming a minister. So, he needs an independent authority to crush them,” said Ahmed.
Mr Shehu Haruna, another Sokoto resident, commended the FG’s efforts and advised Minister Bello Matawalle as an indigene of one of the North West states to intensify supervision operations and ensure that Bello Turji and his bandits gang were flushed out.
Haruna added that there was the urgent need to move against the terrorists to enable the displaced residents to return to their farms and move freely.
He stressed that the Federal Government’s directive has shown deep concerns about the persistent threat posed by banditry and terrorism in the North West states.
Arewa PUNCH’s further investigations reveal that not a few opposition parties’ chieftains are also in agreement with the latest directives.In one of such reactions on Sunday, a coalition for opposition parties in Katsina expressed the group’s support and prayers to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, particularly Bello Matawalle for their foresight in sending the top hierarchy of the military including the army and air force to remain stationed in the heartbeat of this area of insecurity for effective coordination and operations against the insecurity challenges bedevilling the people in the North West.
A report in form of a statement issued by Henshaw Ogubike, the Director of Information and Public Relations, Ministry of Defence had informed that the Minister of State, Chief of Defence Staff and others concerned were moving to Sokoto State.
Ogubike said the directive was aimed at ridding the North-West of the menace of banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism.
“These criminal bandits have been circulating videos of a Nigerian military armoured vehicle that was stuck in a water logged area.
“And late in the night, the officers were asked to withdraw to avoid being ambushed by bandits. Later in the same night, the bandits went to the water logged area, recorded a video of the armoured vehicle that was stuck, and were celebrating over it.
“This incident happened in kwashabawa, Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
“This is not acceptable as President Bola Tinubu has been giving great support to the Armed Forces of Nigeria,’’ Ogubike declared.
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