Troops move to clear bandits from national park

The Theatre Commander of the Joint Task Force North-West under Operation Fansan Yamma, Major-General Warrah Idris, says ongoing military operations in Kainji Lake National Park, Babana and other surrounding locations in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State are aimed at flushing out bandits entrenched in the region.

Major-General Idris disclosed this during a courtesy call on Niger State Governor Umar Bago in Minna, where he was accompanied by senior members of his command.

Kainji Lake National Park and the Babana border corridor have, in recent years, provided cover for criminal groups carrying out attacks across the axis.

As part of efforts to dismantle these hideouts, the Theatre Commander has embarked on a tour of all areas under his jurisdiction to gain firsthand understanding of the terrain, assess security conditions and motivate troops on the ground.

He noted that the directive from the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Defence Staff and the Commander-in-Chief, President Bola Tinubu, is clear — to safeguard Nigerians and restore stability.

Seeking collaboration from both residents and the state government, Major-General Idris said operational assessments have been completed and that “maps for necessary actions” will soon be unveiled.

Governor Bago, in his remarks, called for the establishment of Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) to prevent the movement of miscreants into Niger State from neighbouring states. He further appealed for the recruitment of 25,000 Niger youths into the military to strengthen the fight against insecurity.

He raised concerns over critical assets in Kainji Lake National Park and other parts of Borgu Local Government Area that have been abandoned due to persistent terrorist activity, turning the locations into safe havens. Bago, however, expressed confidence that Operation Fansan Yamma would soon address the situation.

Operation Fansan Yamma is a federal joint military initiative designed to combat insecurity across the North-West and parts of the North-Central region.