Troops onslaught against terrorists in Zamfara: A thumb up

The killing of a notorious terrorists kingpin, Auta on Tuesday 10th June in Zamfara, North Western Nigeria by the Mobile Strike Team (MST) under Operation FASAN YAMMA (OPFY) was not only worth celebrating, but the military’s action deserved commendation for a job well done.

The taking out of Auta alongside his associates, Abdul Jamilu and Salisu was a sign that bandits or terrorists are all living on borrowed time and when they game is up, they would be brought down by the firepower of the Nigerian military and other security agents.

It’s disturbing that almost half of Northwest States are under seize of bandits and terrorists leading to uncountable number of deaths daily. Both the poor and the rich are kidnapped for ransom even as the sex starved criminals would kidnap women and rape them, raid communities and carry out wanton destruction of properties. Farmers are taxed by bandits before they are allowed to farm only for bandits to wait till harvest season and return and harvest the farm produce. This is unacceptable and this trend must change!

The military authority in a statement on Thursday revealed those profiled criminals were taken out successfully while planning for operation around Ƙunchin Kalgo town in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara. Intelligence reports indicated that Auta and his associates have terrorised the people of Zamfara for too long, revealing that they were behind series of attacks in Zamfara and other surrounding States.

It is clear that the killing of the non-state actors was justice served not only on behalf of the people of Zamfara and other adjoining states, but on behalf of the entire country the effort of the military deserves the thumb of up of well meaning Nigerians.

Meanwhile the Military statement further revealed killing of other notable terrorists which include, one identified as Babayé Sale Ado Madele (alias Sarki), the eldest son of known bandit leader Ado Alieru, as well as others who reportedly congregated near a filling station in Danjibga.

In as much as Nigerians would want the military and other security agents to sustain the tempo, cooperation by Nigerians and mostly the people of the affected States and communities was most needed for the needed intelligence report leading to operation against bandits.

We call on government to take welfare of security agents seriously given the risk they are taking in order to protect their citizens. Beyond these laudable achievements, sponsors of terrorists and bandits either for political or selfish reasons shouldn’t be spared as the violence against the nation has tarried for too long and must be stopped at all costs.