Worried by the growing cases of banditry in Northwest Nigeria especially in Zamfara State, the Force Commander, Operation Hadarin Daji, Maj. Gen. Jide Ogunlade on Tuesday, 24th June 2019 issued a 24-hour ultimatum to bandits in Zamfara State to surrender. The bandits were asked to either surrender or face “unprecedented fire-fight”, according to Ogunlade.
Reading the riot act at a news conference held at the command headquarters of the force in Gusau, Ogunlade noted with disappointment how the bandits refused to surrender and denounce their unacceptable actions in the month of May 2019 when the state’s Governor, Alh. Bello Matawalle offered amnesty to those, who voluntarily surrendered.
It is disheartening that when the state governor offered them amnesty, within a few hours, we recorded 20 separate attacks on communities.
This showed that the criminals were not ready to surrender; that is why I am now giving them the next 24 hours.
The only option left for them is to immediately cease fire, drop their arms, and surrender or have themselves to blame” he said.
The commander added that the bandits had always taken advantage of the cover offered by the terrain of the community whenever the operatives chased them but warned that this time around, Security forces will go to their enclaves and hideouts where there will be collateral damage and neutralize them.
The commander assured the people of the state that banditry will very soon, be history in the State after the planned operation that will come up in the next 24 hours.
