Birnin Gwari Bandits Dare the Army
John Shikam writes that the recent directive by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, ordering his men to flush out the bandits terrorising communities in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, seems to have made the hoodlums more
On May 14, 2018, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai ordered troops to flush out bandits terrorising communities in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, within three weeks. The directives, coming from the Army Chief came as a great relief to the people of the area who have been living under a reign of terror.
Like other parts of the country, Birnin Gwari has been under constant attacks by gunmen leading to so much bloodshed, abductions and destruction of property.
However, about two weeks after Buratai’s directives, nothing much seemed to have changed as the bandits continue to unleash mayhem on the communities and travellers in the area as people are being killed or abducted almost every week.
Despite the deployment of security personnel to the area, the hoodlums seemed to be operating freely as they go about with their criminal activities.
The COAS, had during the flag-off of the Forward Operation Base (FOB), tagged operation ‘Idon Raini’ at the proposed site of the 2 Battalion at Kampanin Doka Village, near Birnin Gwari, charged the troops to bring the criminals to their knees in three weeks.
“In the next two, three weeks, there must be resounding results that will bring these criminals to their knees finally," the COAS had declared while addressing the troops.
The launching of the operation was sequel to the deadly attack on Gwaska Village in the Birnin Gwari area. Over 70 people were killed with several houses set ablaze during the deadly invasion of the village.
The troops were camped at the very location where 11 soldiers were killed about two months ago.
Tukur said: “The criminals are not coming from the moon or coming from outer space, they are within this territory, I don't know why you cannot go to where they are, and fish them out.”
Speaking further, he declared that: “The killings must stop, the wanton destruction of property must stop, not only within Kaduna State but in the North-west, the North-central and across our country.
"We must respond decisively and commanders will be personally held responsible for any lapses,” he stressed.
He warned that troops must “decide and take appropriate action, anything outside that, you will also be held responsible."
Buratai said the Nigerian Army will no longer adopt a defensive approach but an offensive approach.
“The battle must be taken to the door steps of the criminals. We are no longer going to adopt the defensive approach, it must be offensive. Since the battle has been brought to you, you must take it back and crush them wherever they are,” the COAS ordered.
He regretted that it was unfortunate that the insecurity is equally turning against the security forces and urged the troops to first of all protect themselves to avoid a repeat of the incident that led to the killing of 11 of their colleagues in the area.
“We are first and foremost supposed to ensure that we protect ourselves. If we cannot protect ourselves, it will be difficult to protect any other person.
"I am saying this against the unfortunate incident that happened here, in this particular place where 11 of our colleagues were unfortunately killed.
"Our training must be applied on the ground. Whatever we have learnt during training, must be applied on the ground.
"You must apply all the techniques and the procedures and the tactics for the type of operations you are deployed to perform. So we expect very high standard of operation.
"A situation where our troops don't observe the basic routines must be avoided,” Buratai told the troops.
He also assured the troops of their welfare, adding that their challenges and other logistics were being addressed.
Earlier during a courtesy call on the Emir of Birnin Gwari, Mallam Jibrin Zubairu, in his palace in Birnin Gwari, the Army Chief
About two weeks after Buratai’s directives, nothing much seemed to have changed as the bandits continue to unleash mayhem on the communities and travellers in the area as people are being killed or abducted almost every week