Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has praised the Nigerian Air Force for their renewed efforts in combating bandits in the state.
The governor gave the commendation in a statement in Gusau on Sunday by Sulaiman Idris, his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity.
Lawal revealed that the Nigerian Air Force had carried out successful airstrikes over the weekend.
The strikes targeted bandits who were attacking villages in Zurmi and Maradun Local Government Areas of the state.
Lawal, however, expressed his deep condolences to the families of civilian casualties who were affected by the airstrikes at Tungar Kara in Zurmi LGA.
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The unfortunately incident included members of the local vigilante group who were mistakenly identified as bandits fleeing from Gidan Makera in the Boko district of Zurmi LGA.
The governor commended the precision strikes carried out by the Air Component of Operation Fansar Yamma over the weekend in troubled Maradun and Zurmi local government areas.
The governor said the strikes had significantly degraded the operational capacity of the bandits.
He said they had also demonstrated the Nigeria Air Force’s commitment to protecting civilians and safeguarding life and property.
“As a responsible government, the Zamfara State Government remains committed to sustaining the gains made in the fight against banditry and related criminalities.
“The recent success is a testament to the collaborative efforts between the state and federal security agencies, which have yielded positive results,” he said.
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Lawal reaffirmed commitment to providing necessary support to the Nigerian Air Force and other security agencies to sustain their operations and bring lasting peace to the state.
According to him, this includes enhancing intelligence sharing, providing logistics, and strengthening community engagement.
He noted that, unfortunately, some members of the Civilian Joint Task Force and local vigilantes were also affected during the operation in Tungar Kara, resulting in the loss of lives.
“We pray to Almighty Allah to grant them Jannah.
“The government will provide necessary support and assistance to the bereaved families,” he said.
The governor called on the people to be vigilant, report all suspicious activities, and cooperate fully with security personnel.
“Through collective effort and unity of purpose, the fight against banditry can be won, bringing enduring peace and stability to Zamfara,” he said.
