The war against armed banditry in the North West got a much needed fillip over the weekend as President Muhammadu Buhari authorised the commencement of a major military operation to sweep bandits and kidnappers out of Katsina State.
A statement by Mallam Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, disclosed, on Sunday, that “a major proactive operation by Special Forces, which details are being kept secret,” was in progress “to replace the reactive strikes against insurgent camps.”
To give a full effect to the exercise, Garba Shehu further revealed, a planning team was already in the state selecting targets and making preparations for the execution of the “unprecedented” operation.
It was further revealed that the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin, who had been measured in issuing official statements on the oncoming exercise, briefed the President on the plan he intended to flag off shortly.
During the briefing, President Buhari, who reportedly expressed sadness over the recent attacks in Katsina State, extended his condolences to the families of those killed and prayed for the recovery of the injured.
