The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Farouk Yahaya, has declared that henceforth, the Nigerian Army will engage bandits and criminals in a war.

Yahaya, who stated during a familiarization visit to 31 Artillery Brigade and Tradoc Minna, Niger State, said the army will be more resolute and decisive in dealing with them.

“I commend them on the job they are doing they should be more resolute and more decisive in dealing with the criminals and we will engage bandits just like in a war. We kill them and bring their weapons. And that is what we will continue to do but there are challenges,” he stated.

He explained that he had travelled around all the states in Nigeria to access the security situation, saying “now that I came here, I have been briefed by my officers on ground”.

On the purpose of the visit, the Army Chief of Staff said, “the essence of the visit is to interact with the troops. To ginger them more to do better. The challenges across the nation have been enormous and we are doing our best. In a war like this, you can have surprises sometimes”

“There are challenges here and there and that’s why we are to address them. As acknowledged by many, there is much improvement as compared to the beginning we are continuing in that drive”.

He also appealed to other services and security agencies as well as relevant stakeholders to assist the Army in the aspect of information sharing.

“These criminal elements are living with us and if we all join hands together, we will eliminate them. Now we are making progress we have improved results. The others (other security agencies) are already contributing with us in the area of information sharing”.

The Chief of Army Staff also commissioned Tradoc Officers Transit Accommodation Military Cantonment Minna.