Top Bandit Leaders Eliminated…President Tinubu Vows to Tackle Insecurity… …Minister Pushes for Higher Defense Budget…Illegal Arms Factories Dismantled
Three Notorious Bandit Leaders Killed in Northwest Nigeria
Nigerian troops have eliminated three notorious bandit leaders in Zamfara State, according to security analyst Zagazola Makama.
The operation, conducted in collaboration with local citizen guards, targeted Kachallah Mai Shadda, Kachallah Gurgu, and Kachallah Mai Dadawere, three high-profile bandits who have held communities in Tsafe County hostage.
“The operation occurred as the bandits attempted to escape on two motorcycles,” reported Zagazola Makama.
This success follows a series of recent military operations that have resulted in the deaths of over 60 bandits and forced many to flee their enclaves.
President Tinubu Pledges Renewed Support for Nigeria’s Military Amid Security Threats
President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s determination to tackle Nigeria’s security challenges and equipping the military with adequate resources, The Punch reports.
The West African nation continues to battle a decades-long Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast, escalating banditry in the Northwest, and separatist movements in the Southeast. While efforts to address these threats are ongoing, they persist as significant challenges.
Speaking at the Regimental Dinner Night in Abuja, an event commemorating the country’s Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day, President Tinubu, represented by Deputy Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu, said, “The road ahead will not always be easy, but together we can overcome any challenge.”
The President pledged to prioritize the welfare of armed forces personnel as they risk their lives for national security. “We will ensure that they have the necessary resources and support to carry out their duties effectively,” he said.
Defense Minister: $32 Million Budget is ‘Inadequate’ to Combat Insecurity
Minister of State for Defense, Bello Matawalle, has described the proposed ₦50 billion ($32.2 million) allocation for the Ministry of Defense in Nigeria’s 2025 budget as grossly insufficient to address the country’s escalating security issues.
Speaking before the House of Representatives Committee on Defense on Tuesday, Matawalle highlighted budget shortfalls, unpaid military entitlements, and insufficient resources for the procurement of critical equipment and the welfare of military personnel.
“We have a lot of challenges. Look at the budget for 2025—just ₦50 billion. We have a shortfall of ₦18 billion ($11.6 million) from last year’s budget, and people expect the ministry to do wonders,” he said, as quoted by The Guardian.
Matawalle appealed for an additional ₦20 billion ($12.8 million) to pay insurance for deceased military personnel and upgrade barracks, emphasizing that proper funding could end banditry in two months. The House Committee has pledged to consider the Minister’s appeal to enhance military capacity and sustain recent successes in combating insecurity.
Authorities Shut Down Illegal Arms Factories in Northern Nigeria
The Nigerian Police in Benue State have uncovered two illegal gun manufacturing factories in Guma and Kwande Counties, Commissioner of Police Steve Yabanet announced on Tuesday in Makurdi as reported by Peoples Gazette.
Acting on credible intelligence, detectives raided a factory in Mbaafa village in Kwande County, on January 11, arresting Friday Aduduakamve and Iorwashima Iornyume, alias “AK-35.” “Police searched the factory and recovered nine fabricated pistols, one yet-to-be-completed AK-47 rifle, two gas cylinders, one filing machine, four other machines, and many other tools for fabricating rifles,” Yabanet said.
Another raid in Daudu village in Guma County led to the arrest of 50-year-old Meme Ihoon and the recovery of six Dane guns and gun-making materials. “The suspect confessed to having been producing and selling arms,” Yabanet added. Investigations are ongoing.
What’s News Today? January 15, 2025, compiled by Ezinwanne Onwuka for TruthNigeria from Abuja.
