By Segun Ojumu, Abuja
Nigeria’s government has announced plans to roll out a five-year national defence strategy as security forces step up operations against armed gangs following a violent attack in northern Kano State.
The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, outlined the measures during an assessment visit to Kano following an raid by armed bandits on Chiroma village in the Garun Mallam area.
During the visit, Matawalle revealed that President Bola Tinubu has established a committee to draft a long-term plan aimed at reshaping the country’s approach to persistent security threats. The announcement comes after military forces successfully rescued a group of abductees captured during the assault. A joint operation led by the army’s 3 Brigade tracked the attackers, freeing the victims around the Yan-Kifi Bridge and Marabar Kwari areas. Nigeria has been grappling with widespread security challenges, particularly in its northern regions, where heavily armed criminal groups—locally known as bandits—frequently carry out mass abductions for ransom, target rural communities, and raid villages. Mr. Matawalle pledged to bolster local operations by deploying additional armoured vehicles, weaponry, and operational resources to Kano State.
However, he stressed that military force alone would not solve the crisis, calling for deeper coordination between federal, state, and local authorities, alongside better intelligence-sharing from local communities.
Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf welcomed the federal support, promising continued state-level cooperation to prevent armed groups from establishing a foothold in the region.
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