President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the military to give a “crushing response” to bandits following abductions and killings perpetrated in Kaduna and Zamfara, respectively.
No fewer than 35 people were killed on Thursday when gunmen attacked five communities in Maradun LGA of Zamfara State.
Kaduna has continued to experience series of school abductions and killing of residents in several communities in the state in recent times.
President Buhari gave the order in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, on Saturday.
The statement read, “President Muhammadu Buhari Saturday condemned repeated bandit killings in Zamfara and Kaduna States, urging the nation’s military to respond to the worrying situation in a language that the bandits understand.
“The President notes that the military and other security agencies are now working on new methods and policies that are yielding good results in many of the troubled parts of the country and calls for a crushing response to the killing of innocent citizens in the rural communities.
“He also avers that the nation, its military and the entire population needs to summon the courage required to defeat the bandits and terrorists.”
Buhari also cautioned politicians whom he said are commenting on security issues to seek applause.
He said, “President Buhari condemns some politicians making utterances on security, merely seeking applause, advising them to join the ongoing genuine efforts aimed at finding lasting solutions to the challenges confronting the nation.
“He expresses the nation’s sorrow over the loss of lives, urging security agencies to do everything possible to prevent the recurrence of attacks with impunity.”