The Northern Elders Political Development group has said that improved security in the North West has brought hope to the people of the region.
This is contained in a statement issued in Kaduna by the Secretary of the group, Dr Adamu Giwa in Kaduna.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Federal Government, in October 2024, launched the “Operation FasanYamma” (salvage the west), a new military initiative aimed at tackling banditry and insecurity in the northwest.
“Measures taken under operation the operation ‘Fansa Yamma,’ as promised by President Bola Tinubu, has yielded positive results, reducing kidnapping and attacks by bandits in many villages in the region,” the group said.
The group commended the Minister of State Defence, Mohammed Matawalle and Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, for their collaborative efforts with other security apparatus in improving security in the north west.
“Many towns and villages in the region observed the Eid-el-Fitr peacefully without recording cases of bandits’ attacks.
“We also commend troops for a successful outing under operation Fansa Yamma, which led to the destruction of bandits’ enclaves in some areas in the North West.
“The improved security has significantly reduced challenges of traveling and trading activities, especially along major routes like Sokoto-Gusau and to Kano,” the group said.
The military’s efforts, the group said, had led to success in operations against banditry, especially in the states of Zamfara, Sokoto and Katsina.
The elders said that the new tactical operations of attacking bandits in their enclaves had been a significant achievement.
“We agree that while we are not there yet, there are indications that we are on the right track towards that,” the group said.
The group, however, raised concerns over reports of pockets of attacks in some villages in Sabon Birni and Isa, Sokoto state, as well as in other areas of Katsina, Kebbi and Zamfara.
