President Muhammadu Buhari has appealed to the people of Katsina, who protested over the rising killings by bandits in the state.
Okay.ng recalls that residents of Katsina stormed the streets to demand an end to the banditry or else Buhari and Masari should resign.
Reacting to this, in a statement issued by presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, Buhari assured that the nation’s armed forces are fully capable of dealing with the challenges of banditry and terrorism, urging more patience as the military takes appropriate steps to block gaps being exploited to unleash mayhem on innocent citizens.
According to the statement, President Buhari, who has approved a joint military and police operation specifically targeted at combing Niger, Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto States to rid the areas of bandits, assures that surveillance will be improved, with more night vision aircrafts already deployed under “Operation Accord’’.
The statement noted that the operation was launched three weeks ago.
Buhari said: “Nigeria’s military has displayed its capabilities in the past and will show it again by dealing with the current challenges.
President Buhari appeals to the people of Katsina State to be patient and supportive of the ongoing military operations in the state, while sympathizing with those who are bereaved, injured and lost properties.
President Buhari admonishes that taking to the streets for protest could distract the military operations, urging “Katsina indigenes not to give up on the military who over the years have a strong track record of quelling crises once given enough time.
“The major forests in North-Western Nigeria have been identified as home to the bandits in the region. The operation will clear all these forests,’’ he further said.
