By Shola Abayomi.
President Muhammadu Buhari has charged the Nigerian military to be ruthless in the fight against banditry in the country.
The president gave the directive today while addressing 15 officers and 160 soldiers of the 17th Army Brigade and Nigerian Air Force 213 Operational Base in Katsina.
According to a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the president urged the military not to spare any bandit, but to identify, pursue and eliminate them wherever they are found.
The statement read in part: “This group was formed by the military to secure the geo-political zone from the activities of bandits. Fundamentally, it is your responsibility to secure the country.
“As the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, I believe you are capable of doing it.
“I don’t think you should spare any bandit. Identify and eliminate them. Pursue them anywhere you can find them and eliminate them.
“We will give you all the right equipment so that you can deal with them with despatch.
“I appreciate all your efforts but you can do more. I don’t want any bandit spared.”