Nigerian Military to Return to Troubled Communities with New Strategy
The Nigerian Defence Headquarters has explained why soldiers were withdrawn from some bandit-troubled communities in Niger State. The military authorities withdrew troops from the communities in April following a deadly ambush of the soldiers by bandits.
The spokesperson for the DHQ, Edward Buba, an army major general, said the withdrawal was temporary, and soldiers will return to the communities after an ongoing review of tactical strategies. Buba explained that the military suffered human and equipment casualties after soldiers ran into explosive devices planted by the bandits.
The withdrawal of troops from the communities has weakened the government’s efforts to eradicate insecurity in the state, according to Niger State Acting Governor Yakubu Garba. Garba called on the military to return to the troubled parts of the state to protect residents.
The bandits have dealt fatal blows on troops in the past by planting Improvised Explosive Devices on their paths. Buba said the bandits exploited the poor road situation to attack soldiers. The road to FOB Allawa was made worse due to the rainy season, making it easier for the bandits to plant IEDs along the route.
The absence of troops in the community has led to a rise in attacks by bandits, resulting in deaths, abductions, and the displacement of hundreds of residents. The police in Niger announced that it uncovered a large cache of explosive devices, including bombs and Improvised Explosive Devices, buried in multiple locations in the state.
The police said the explosive devices were suspected to have been concealed by terrorists and bandits. The Commissioner of Police, Shawulu Danmamman, directed the destruction of the improvised explosive device/bombs recovered from different locations during multiple counter-insurgency operations with other security agencies in the state between 2021 and 2023.
The Nigerian military is expected to return to the troubled communities with a new strategy to confront the bandits. The military’s decision to temporarily withdraw troops was not unconnected with casualties incurred from IEDs in several instances by troops. The IED incidents resulted in both equipment and personnel casualties.
The people of Niger State are eagerly awaiting the return of the military to the troubled areas to provide full security cover to the residents, who are predominantly farmers. The government is working to ensure a safer and more secure environment in the state.
