Bomba Dauda
The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd), on Wednesday commissioned over 20 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) and advanced surveillance drones in Zamfara State as part of efforts to strengthen military operations against armed banditry in the North-West.
The military equipment, procured by the Zamfara State Government under Governor Dauda Lawal, was unveiled in Gusau, the state capital, in a move aimed at enhancing force protection, intelligence gathering and surveillance operations in banditry-prone areas.
Zamfara State has remained one of the epicentres of armed banditry in the region, with criminal gangs exploiting rugged terrain and forest reserves as hideouts for their operations.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, General Musa said the deployment of the armoured platforms and unmanned aerial systems formed part of the Federal Government’s renewed counter-insurgency and counter-banditry strategy targeted at dismantling criminal networks and cutting off their supply routes.
He explained that the APCs, equipped with ballistic protection and enhanced mobility systems, would improve troop survivability during clearance operations, convoy escorts and combat engagements in high-risk areas.
“These assets will significantly boost our operational readiness, improve force mobility and provide the tactical advantage required to neutralise armed bandits and other non-state actors threatening peace in Zamfara and neighbouring states,” he said.
The minister added that the integration of surveillance drones into ongoing military operations would enhance real-time situational awareness, aerial reconnaissance and intelligence-driven missions.
According to him, the deployment aligns with the Armed Forces’ doctrine of proactive engagement, coordinated joint task force operations and sustained area domination patrols.
Musa commended the Zamfara State Government for procuring the APCs in support of internal security operations, describing the initiative as a strong example of civil-military collaboration in tackling asymmetric security threats.
He noted that the newly commissioned assets would strengthen both kinetic and non-kinetic operations, improve security in vulnerable communities and enhance air-ground coordination during joint missions.
The minister reassured residents of the Armed Forces’ commitment, in synergy with other security agencies, to restoring law and order, protecting critical national assets and safeguarding lives and property.
He also urged citizens to support security efforts through timely intelligence sharing and community-based early warning mechanisms, stressing that national security remains a collective responsibility.
