As Military air strike kills dozens in Birnin Gwari
From:Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has said that bandits have lost their right to life under the Constitution and must be wiped out in their entirety, saying there is no other way to approach the current insurgency situation as far as governmental action is concerned.
This is as military air strike killed more that dozens of the bandits in Birnin Gwari.
He made the assertion in his welcome address at the Federal Government Townhall meeting on National Security, held in kaduna yesterday.
El Rufai explained that “the country is in a war with these terrorists who are challenging the sovereignty and monopoly of the instruments of coercion of the Nigerian state and its territory.”
He opined that “the security forces must collaborate to take the war to them, recover and restore the un-governed forests. These terrorist occupy, and deny our law-abiding citizens the right to engage in their legitimate pursuits, including farming and livestock production.
“Amidst the sorrows and suffering insecurity has caused to many of our citizens, some of our compatriots will be tempted to dismiss gatherings like this as futile and impotent gestures.
“No one who is in a position of responsibility can deny the necessity for firm action in the form of proactive and sustained offensives against the criminals.
“Such security operations will not only cripple the outlaws, but will also reassure ordinary citizens, bolster the morale of the security agencies and provide an alternative focus for the energies that are being dissipated on fractious endeavours.” he said.
Speaking on the Town Hall meeting, Governor El Rufai said the theme of this townhall meeting speaks to that function of informed discourse as an enabler of more effective action.
Meanwhile, more than two dozen of bandits were reportedly neutralized on Wednesday in an aerial mission over Ungwan Nacibi in Birnin Gwari local government area of Kaduna state.
The State Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan stated this in a statement made available to media in kaduna yesterday.
The Statement stated that the neutralization of the bandits’ was reported by the air component of Operation Thunder Strike (OPTS).
According to the Operational Feedback, the aircraft conducted interdictions at the identified bandits’ location, which were successful.
“The strikes were well on target as several bandits were confirmed neutralized by the air strike.
“Governor Nasir El-Rufai noted the feedback with thanks and commended the crew for a successful mission.”