Herdsmen killings: How Buhari is tackling attacks on Nigerians – Presidency

The Presidency on Monday revealed how President Muhammadu Buhari has
been tackling the killings across the country.

Buhari's Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina said the
President ordered the deployment of security operatives to some
affected areas, shortly after those states were attacked.

Adesina also noted that contrary to insinuations, the President was
doing enough to curtail the killings.

He noted that, "A popular refrain from some quarters is that the
President is not doing enough to combat the insecurity that has
beleaguered the country in recent times.

"Lest that untruth begins to wear a garb of reality, let us consider
some initiatives taken under the leadership of President Muhammadu
Buhari to rein in the security situation, particularly since January
2018."

See full statement belows…

COMBATING INSECURITY IN THE COUNTRY: LEST WE FORGET – PRESIDENCY

JANUARY 2018

The leadership of the police deployed to Benue State, after mass
killings reportedly committed by herdsmen. This was followed by a
fact-finding team led by the Minister of Interior, and deployment of
Special Forces of the military, to restore law and order.

National Economic Council sets up 10-man committee on farmers/herdsmen
clashes, headed by the Vice President.

The 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, Kaduna, launched a special
operation, Karamin Goro (Small Kolanut), in collaboration with the Air
Force, Police, Department of State Services, and Nigerian Security and
Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC; to tackle kidnapping, robbery and cattle
rustling in parts of Kaduna and Niger States (Minna-Birnin
Gwari-Pandogari and Minna-Sarkin Pawa general areas)

FEBRUARY 2018

The Nigerian Army commenced Exercise Ayem Akpatuma covering Benue,
Taraba, Kogi, Nasarawa, Kaduna and Niger States, in order to tackle
the cases of kidnappings, herdsmen/farmers' clashes, among others.

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) inducted its first indigenous operational
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), Tsaigumi. The newly-inducted UAV has
day and night capability, an operational endurance in excess of 10
hours, a service ceiling of 15,000 feet and a mission radius of 100km,
and is capable of being used for policing operations, disaster
management, convoy protection, maritime patrol, pipeline, power line
monitoring as well as mapping and border patrol duties.

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) established a total of 10 new Units as
NAF had concluded plans to set up Quick Response Wings (QRWs) across
Nasarawa State, in a bid to tackle the herders/farmers clashes
plaguing some states within the axis.

MARCH 2018

President Buhari began sympathy visits to states that had experienced
wanton killings in the country.

The Nigerian Army extended Exercise Ayem Akpatuma in Taraba State by two months.

The committee set up by the National Economic Council on
farmers/herdsmen clashes submits report, making far-reaching
recommendations for peace, including ranching in five states.

APRIL 2018

The Nigerian Air Force took delivery of a second batch of 2 brand new
Mi-35N helicopter gunships to boost internal security.

Deployed Special Force to Zamfara State to combat criminality

MAY 2018

The Nigerian Police Force inaugurated a Mobile Squadron in Takum, Taraba State.

The Nigerian Air Force established 3 new Quick Response Wings (QRW) in
Taraba, Nasarawa and Benue States respectively, and deployed Special
Forces personnel to these new bases. (Taraba State QRW is located in
Nguroje; Nasarawa State QRW in Doma; and Benue State QRW in Agatu).

Inspector-General of Police Ibrahim Idris ordered the deployment of
200 policemen, and 10 patrol vehicles to Birnin Gwari (Kaduna-Zamfara
axis) to tackle armed banditry in the area.

President Buhari approved the establishment of a new Battalion of the
Nigerian Army, as well as a new Police Area Command, in Birnin Gwari
LGA of Kaduna State, as part of measures to scale up the security
response to the banditry affecting the area. Chief of Army Staff, Lt
Gen. Tukur Buratai, has since flagged off the new Battalion (2
Battalion Forward Operating Base, FOB) in Kanfanin Doka Village,
Birnin-Gwari, Kaduna State.

The Defence Headquarters assembled a Special Military Intervention
Force comprising more than 1,000 personnel, drawn from the Army, Air
Force, Navy, Police, DSS, and NSCDC, to respond to the security
challenges in the North Central and North West. On May 8, 2018, the
Force launched Operation WHIRL STROKE, as a full-scale military
operation to completely restore law, order, and stability in the
affected communities. The Whirl Stroke Operational Force Commander is
Major General Adeyemi Yekini.

Chief of Army Staff inducted a mix of 49 Toyota Land Cruisers and
Innoson gun trucks, at the HQ of the 133 Special Forces Battalion of
the Nigerian Army at Azare, to support the ongoing OPERATION LAST HOLD
in Northern Borno.

NAF launched newly-constructed accommodation for the 205 Combat Search
and Rescue Group (CSARG) — established in 2017 to provide aid and
operational assistance to wounded and distressed troops serving in
combat units — in Kerang, Plateau State.

The Air Task Force of NAF commenced Operation THUNDERSTRIKE to attack
selected locations of Boko Haram Terrorists in the North-East.

The Nigerian Army commissioned its new Forward Operating Base in Epe,
Lagos State

JUNE 2018

NAF deployed combat helicopter to its 207 Quick Response Group (QRG)
in Gusau, Zamfara State to support the fight against armed banditry in
the town and its environs.

JULY 2018

President Buhari approved the establishment of Operation WHIRL STROKE
II, for deployment in Zamfara and Kaduna States.
Securing the length and breadth of the country is a continuing
commitment. It is one of the key pledges of the Buhari administration,
which it is carrying out night and day.

In May 2015, when the administration emerged, the security situation
was in tatters. It pulled up its bootstraps, rolled up its sleeves,
set to work, and the Boko Haram insurgency was beaten back. It was
eventually degraded.

Other security challenges are being tackled and will subsequently
become history. Not doing enough, as some critics claim, is not part
of the deal, nor is it a reality, no, not by any stretch of the
imagination. A lot is being done, and success is guaranteed.