The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya, has solicited the support of traditional rulers in northwest Nigeria for reliable and actionable information that will aid troops in combating the menace of banditry.

A statement on Friday by Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director Army Public Relations, said the services of traditional Institutions are needed at this crucial period, in order to eliminate criminal elements in the society

“The COAS, made the plea when he paid a courtesy visit to the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Farouk Umar, at his palace in Daura

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“Gen Yahaya told the Royal father that he was on an operational tour of Army formations and units in 8 Division and in the North West theatre of operation to evaluate, re-strategise and reinvigorate ongoing operations, as well as motivate troops deployed to fight banditry in the region.

” He further reaffirmed Nigerian Army’s positive disposition toward collaborating with other security agencies and partnering with stakeholders to effectively degrade the activities of bandits and other criminal elements.

According to him, “The COAS interacted with troops of 171 Battalion at Fort Muhammadu Buhari Forward Operating Base, during which the troops catalogued their challenges as a unit and as individuals. He reiterated his commitment to ensure that their wellbeing is topmost in the agenda of his command, adding that personnel must get their due entitlements and not short-changed.

While appreciating the Emir and the good people of Daura for their support and cooperation to the troops, the COAS urged traditional rulers to use their position of strength and clout to regenerate and firm up their information network in an effort to enhance the operational efficiency of troops in decimating the bandits and ultimately put an end to banditry in their localities and the state in general,” the statement said.