From Layi Olanrewaju, Ilorin
Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, Chief of Army Staff, has ordered Nigerian Army troops to eliminate bandits in Baruten and Kaiama Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Kwara State and Borgu in the Kainji forest of Niger State within one month.
Addressing troops at the 22 Armoured Brigade, Sobi Cantonment, Ilorin, Oluyede declared, “I’m giving you one month from now to recover all territory in Baruten, Kaiama and other areas in Kainji Forest to the territorial integrity of Nigeria.”
He vowed to prevent the northeast’s insurgency from spreading to the north-central region, stating, “No single part of the territory would be allowed to integrate or be taken away by insurgents in any form, either in the form of bandits or Boko Haram or whatever name they may call it.”
Oluyede urged troops to fulfil their promise, saying, “In the next one month, I don’t want to see any one of the insurgents in our borders again.”
Oluyede promised improved welfare, including 100,000 monthly uniform units, ₦1 billion for feeding, and better accommodation, aiming for soldiers to become professionals like doctors and engineers. The order follows recent attacks by the Mahmuda group in Kaiama and Baruten, with seven deaths in Ilesha Baruba, Baruten, on April 21.