Last weekends military onslaught that has reportedly decimated the camp.of terrorist leader, Bello Turji, has been described as a milestone in the fight against insurgency by the governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal
The governor hailed the military for the increased assault against bandits who have been terrorizing his state.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in a weekend air raid, bombed bandits unleashing attacks on villages in Zurmi and Maradun Local Government Areas.
The state government in a statement on Sunday by its spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris however expressed regretted and commiserated with the families of civilian casualties, who were identified as members of the state vigilante group, that were mistaken for bandits during the recent airstrike in Tungar Kara, Zurmi LGA.
It explained that the deceased were members of a local vigilante group wrongly identified as fleeing bandits from Gidan Makera in Boko district of Zurmi.
The government commended the military for the strikes conducted by the Air Component of Operation Hadarin Daji, which it said had massively neutralized the ability of bandits operating in parts of the North-West and North-Central States.
“The Military intervention underpins the commitment of the Nigerian Air Force to its constitutional obligation to protect lives and property,” the statement read.
“The commitment of the administration towards federal security efforts in making sure sustained collaboration was reaffirmed by Governor Lawal as maintained in recorded successes in the fight against bandits. It assured the determination for more intelligence sharing, logistics support, and deeper community engagement to help restore peace across the state.”
The governor, who described the dead members of the Civilian JTF and local vigilante in the attack as fallen heroes, promised that the government would stand by them as their sacrifices would not be in vain.
He further called on the people to be watchful, report strange activities, and fully cooperate with the security apparatus as part of their contributions toward this single fight against banditry.