During a courtesy call in Abuja with Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Major General Taoreed Lagbaja, expressed his views on the amnesty programme implemented for bandits and terrorists in Zamfara and other states. The COAS described the programme as a failure and highlighted its ineffectiveness in addressing the security challenges faced in the region.
According to Lagbaja, the amnesty programme in Zamfara and other parts of the Northwest has not yielded the desired results. He noted that rather than rehabilitating the criminals, the programme has provided them with opportunities to regroup and launch attacks on defenseless citizens.
The COAS stressed the need for a reevaluation of the amnesty initiative in light of the criminal elements’ continued activities.
The COAS appreciated Governor Lawal for providing feedback on the activities of the troops deployed to restore peace in Zamfara. He assured the governor that additional resources would be deployed to reactivate unserviceable military platforms and enhance the effectiveness of troops’ operations in the state.
Governor Lawal expressed the significant security threats that Zamfara State has been facing and appealed for the support of the Nigerian army to tackle these challenges effectively. He acknowledged the efforts of the troops in restoring peace in the state but emphasized the need for additional military resources to bolster ongoing operations. The governor highlighted the limited number of operational vehicles in the state and the alarming rise in cases of kidnapping and the senseless killing of innocent people on a daily basis, just as he congratulated the COAS on his appointment and pledged his full support to the troops deployed in his state, affirming his dedication to assisting them in fulfilling their constitutional mandate.
COAS Advises Plateau State Governor to Convene Stakeholders Meeting to End Killings
In a separate meeting at the Army Headquarters in Abuja, Major General Taoreed Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), advised the Governor of Plateau State to organize an expanded stakeholders meeting that includes critical individuals to address the escalating killings in the state.
He further urged the Governor to review previous commission reports and implement their recommendations as part of the efforts to halt the wanton loss of lives.
The COAS stated this when he received the Plateau Governor on a Courtesy visit, he assured the Governor that the Nigerian Army has already implemented measures to restore peace in the troubled Mangu local government area and other affected regions of the state. In addition, he pledged to deploy additional combat enablers to the Plateau to reinforce peacekeeping operations.
