Army Day 2016 to hold in Zamfara, Yari seeks more troops’ deployment

The 2016 edition of the annual Nigeria Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) would hold in Zamfara state, even as the state Governor Abdul’aziz Yari has requested for increase deployment of soldiers to assist other security agencies in the state to curb the threat posed by better-armed bandits.

Yari made the request to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt. General Tukur Buratai, when he paid a courtesy call at the Army headquarters saying, the activities of criminals in state has continued to escalate, especially in four identified local governments, where more sophisticated weapons are used by the criminals, thus the need to up deployments of soldiers to curb the situation.

Spokesperson of the Army Col. Sani Usman quoted the governor as saying that activities of bandits in the state are beyond cattle rustling as the criminals are using sophisticated weapons, thereby posing a security threat in four local government councils.

Yari, therefore, requested for deployment of more troops in the state to curb incessant cattle rustling and other criminalities, which have taken a dangerous dimension in recent times.

Col. Usman quoted the COAS in his response as promising that the Army leadership would ensure that security in the state is guaranteed, especially as it relates to cattle rustling, which is the most common in those areas, banditry among others.

Buratai said “the Army was already working out ways to rid the state of all criminal elements, emphasizing that the Nigerian Air Force is providing aerial surveillance for the operation.”

The COAS used the opportunity to reveal that the 2016 Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL), would hold in Zamfara State, to further strengthen the already existing cordial relationship between the State Government and the Nigerian Army.”