Nigeria@64: Over 300 Boko Haram, Bandits commanders eliminated within one year — Tinubu

As a progress report on the fight against insecurity in the country, President Bola Tinu has said his administration eliminated more than 300 Boko Haram and bandit commanders within just one year in office.

He made the declaration while delivering his 64th Independence Day speech on Tuesday.

According to the president, his administration is winning the war against terrorism in the country.

He said, “On the security front, I am happy to announce to you, my compatriots, that our administration is winning the war on terror and banditry.

“Our target is to eliminate all the threats of Boko Haram, banditry, kidnapping for ransom, and the scourge of all forms of violent extremism. Within one year, our government has eliminated Boko Haram and bandit commanders faster than ever.

“As of the last count, over 300 Boko Haram and bandit commanders have been eliminated by our gallant troops in the Northeast, Northwest, and some other parts of the country.

“We have restored peace to hundreds of communities in the North, and thousands of our people have been able to return home.

“It is an unfinished business, which our security agencies are committed to ending as quickly as possible.

“As soon as we can restore peace to many communities in the troubled parts of the North, our farmers can return to their farms.

“We expect to see a leap in food production and a downward spiral in food costs. I promise you, we shall not falter on this.”

Tinubu’s reassurance that the federal government was winning the war against insecurity follows reports of rising insecurity in the country.

Last month, the Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) called on the Federal government to declare a state of emergency to allow the fight against banditry to succeed.

Also, last month, elder statesmen made up of former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, former Military President Ibrahim Babangida (IBB), former Head of State Abdulsalami Abubakar, and former National Security Adviser Aliyu Gusau had met in Minna, Niger State, to deliberate on way forward on rising insecurity in the country.

Recently, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar slammed the federal government, saying that they remain engrossed in inconsequential affairs despite rampant destruction across the country.

He said the government was rather preoccupied with arresting protesters than addressing the worsening insecurity in the country.

In a post on his X Page, Abubakar condemned the terrorist attack in Yobe state on Sunday which claimed several lives.

He wrote, “Despite the tragic bloodshed in Yobe, which has claimed scores of lives, and the rampant destruction across numerous villages in Katsina, Sokoto, and other towns within the North-West and North-Central regions, the government seems to remain detached, engrossed in inconsequential affairs.

“The turmoil extends to the South as well, where the disquiet wrought by Boko Haram and the unsettling political discord threatens the nation’s peace. Amidst these grave challenges, the Federal Government preoccupies itself with stifling dissent, resorting to draconian measures such as imposing death sentences on protesters.

“The atrocity in Yobe is a stark testament to the failure of the current security framework, demanding immediate and comprehensive reform. My heart goes out to the victims of these horrific attacks, and I fervently implore the Tinubu administration to demonstrate a heightened commitment to safeguarding life and property across the nation.”

Insurgents had recently attacked Mafa Village, close to Shekau, the home town of the late Boko haram leader Abubakar Shekau.

The gunmen stormed the village located in the Tarmuwa Local Government Area of the state, killing many with several houses burnt down.

Police spokesman, Dungus Abdulkarim, who confirmed the attack to Channels Television said the incident was reported to the police by a resident.

“Adamu Hassan, a resident of Mafa residents, reported the incident to the Tarmuwa Divisional Police Station.

“The terrorists also killed many people, but we are yet to ascertain the actual number of the casualties,” the spokesman said.

Following the attack, the Kaduna State government conducted funeral prayers for the 34 victims who were killed.

This is as the Acting Governor Yakubu Garba announced that the Minna government will partner with the military in assessing the security situation in Alawa, to pave the way for the reopening of a military base in the town.