The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, has confirmed the killing of notorious bandits’ leader, Kachalla Halilu, and scores of other bandits in ongoing operations in Zamfara. The Defence Chief made the announcement during a visit to Governor Dauda Lawal in Gusau, Zamfara State, on Friday.
Halilu and his followers were neutralized during an encounter with troops deployed to the Mayanci general area in Maru Local Government. Gen. Musa commended the troops for their dedication and hard work, assuring that more bandits would be killed in Zamfara.
The Defence Chief noted that the ongoing military operations are part of the federal government’s strategies to end banditry in the North-West region. He promised that more troops and security personnel would be deployed to Zamfara, supported with weapons, security helicopters, and vehicles.
Gen. Musa appealed to the people of Zamfara to continue providing credible intelligence to security agencies and avoid supporting bandits. He emphasized that without community support, the success of the operations would be hindered.
Governor Lawal described the visit as timely and assured the Defence Chief of his administration’s continued collaboration and support for security agencies. He noted that Zamfara had become an epicenter of banditry activities in the North-West region and that addressing the issue in the state would have a positive impact on the entire region.
The Defence Chief also addressed military personnel at the 1 Brigade Command in Gusau, commending them for their successes and encouraging them to do more. He expressed sadness over the loss of four soldiers killed during an encounter with bandits along the Gusau-Tsafe road on Thursday.
The visit was marked by a minute of silence for the deceased army personnel. The ongoing operations in Zamfara aim to eliminate banditry and restore peace to the region.
Vanguard.
