By BANNERNEWS Reporter, Gusau
The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Muhammad Matawalle, has vowed to intensify efforts to confront the persistent security challenges troubling Zamfara State, announcing plans to deploy 2,000 armed naval personnel to strategic locations in the state.
Matawalle made the disclosure during an APC stakeholders’ meeting held at the Zamfara State Government House in Gusau, where security dominated discussions among party leaders and government officials.
He identified the major obstacle in the fight against banditry as the difficult terrain surrounding criminal hideouts located behind the Bakarori Dam, describing the area as a major operational base for armed groups terrorising communities.
According to him, the bandits have continued to exploit the area because of its water access and rich grazing fields, which provide shelter and sustenance for their livestock and operations.
To counter the threat, Matawalle said the Federal Government had resolved to deploy 2,000 armed Navy personnel to Ruga in Maradun Local Government Area as part of renewed efforts to flush out the criminals.
“We have resolved to deploy 2,000 armed Navy personnel to the Ruga location in Maradun,” he said.
He explained that previous operations targeting camps located at “Bayan Ruwa” had significantly weakened the bandits’ capacity to launch attacks on surrounding communities.
“Whenever we destroyed their camps at Bayan Ruwa, we weakened their strength of attacking communities because they lacked a hidden place,” Matawalle stated.
The minister further disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had assured Nigerians of his administration’s commitment to ending insecurity and restoring peaceful coexistence across Zamfara State and the country at large.
