Tinubu Lauds Military for Crushing Bandits and Terrorists in North-West

President Bola Tinubu has praised the military for their successful operations against security threats in the North-West, reaffirming his confidence in the ability of the nation’s security forces to maintain peace.

These victories came in response to Tinubu’s directive for service chiefs to relocate to the region until normalcy was restored, according to the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga.

On Thursday, troops from Operation Hadarin Daji eliminated notorious bandit leader Halilu Sububu, who had been terrorizing communities in Zamfara, Sokoto, and other parts of the North-West. In a separate joint operation, security forces neutralized terrorist Sani Wala Burki in Katsina and dismantled a terrorist enclave in Kaduna, rescuing 13 kidnapped students.

President Tinubu expressed his admiration for the military’s high command, intelligence agencies, and troops, acknowledging their bravery, coordination, and commitment that led to these recent successes.

He further applauded the security apparatus for the improved national security and urged them to sustain the momentum until all threats to the nation are permanently addressed.

“President Tinubu reassures the security agencies of his continued support in achieving the priority objective of keeping the nation safe and secure,” Onanuga stated.

Troops Eliminate Notorious Terrorist Leader Halilu Buzu in Zamfara Raid

Nigerian Army troops have successfully neutralized a notorious terrorist leader, Halilu Buzu, along with several of his fighters during an operation in Mayanchi village, Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

The Army announced the successful strike in a post on its official X handle on Friday, revealing that the operation took place on Thursday in a “deliberate and discreetly coordinated offensive” targeting Buzu and his gang.

According to the statement, troops launched a fierce assault on the terrorists’ identified crossing point in Mayanchi. The insurgents, led by Buzu, put up strong resistance but ultimately succumbed to the overwhelming firepower of the Nigerian forces.

“On winning the firefight, the troops recovered two Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) guns, three PKT guns, five AK-47 rifles, 479 rounds of PKT ammunition, and 366 rounds of 7.62mm (special) ammunition,” the statement read.

Other items recovered included 182 rounds of Machine Gun 1 ammunition, one RPG bomb, 29 AK-47 magazines, 30 motorcycles, two Android phones, and two Yeekee phones.

The Army added that troops also destroyed the terrorists’ camp and are currently conducting further operations in the surrounding area to ensure complete clearance of any remaining threats.

The operation is seen as a significant breakthrough in the ongoing efforts to curb terrorism and restore peace in Zamfara and its neighboring regions.

Army Chief Lagbaja Urges Officers to Aim for Operational Excellence

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has called on officers of the Nigerian Army to maintain a near-zero margin for operational failure in their leadership roles.

He gave the charge at the graduation ceremony of the Leadership and Strategic Studies Course 2/2023, organized by the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC) on Friday in Abuja.

Addressing the graduates, Lagbaja emphasized that the course, a combination of professional and academic training, was not only a key career course but also a crucial preparation for Nigerian Army direct regular officers in their future assignments, both within and outside the military.

“The participants have no excuse to fall short of expectations in the field,” Lagbaja said, noting that previous graduates had demonstrated that the course content was valuable and worthy of investment.

The COAS highlighted that the course was a senior-level program, designed to mirror the experience of Regular Combatant officers at the National Defence College. Over the past 11 months, participants were expected to have developed skills in policy analysis, argumentation, evaluation, and research in leadership and strategic studies.

In recent years, the Nigerian Army has increased its investment in developing operational and strategic-level leaders, equipping them to “think out of the box” and approach issues objectively for informed decision-making, Lagbaja said.

“Moreover, the political and economic reality of present-day Nigeria requires senior leaders to be ingenious in employing available resources – human and material, to fulfill operational objectives,” he added.

Lagbaja underscored the importance of understanding the army’s internal functions and its relationship with other systems within Nigeria, warning that any gaps in this understanding could lead to operational disasters, which he said would be “unacceptable to the Nigerian people.”

He further emphasized that the army’s commitment to building an efficient military requires defined policies, focused investment, and continuous training to meet both current and future operational demands.

Retired Maj.-Gen. Garba Wahab, Director General of NARC, reiterated that the course was designed to level the playing field for operational officers and enhance the awareness, training, and proficiency of direct regular officers.

Wahab emphasized the importance of collaboration in addressing security challenges, stating, “They must have an open mind to relate with everybody who matters. They must find a way of engaging with the locals and ensuring people believe in whatever they are doing.”

The Nigerian Army Resource Centre also graduated participants from the Leadership Development Skills Course 10, aimed at enhancing the capabilities of non-commissioned officers, as well as junior and mid-level officers.