The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen Irabor has reaffirmed the commitment of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) to support Kano state and other troubled states in providing adequate security for law-abiding Nigerians, as well as foreign nationals, pledging to flush out bandits hiding inside some parts of Falgore Forest.
Gen Irabor said this while receiving the Kano State Governor Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje at the Defence HQ at the Armed Forces complex, on Thursday in Abuja.
The CDS also stated that the Nigerian military would continue to partner with Forest Guards towards securing the vast forests across the national forests, and combat banditry and other forms of criminality currently bedevilling the state.
The CDS also reassured that the military will disengage criminals, who return to the forest reserves after perpetrating their nefarious activities.
He expressed appreciation to the government and people of Kano state for the solidarity visit and condolences.
He also noted that the establishment of the training center in Falgore Forest by the Nigeria Army was intended to meet the security demand in the area.
He commended the Kano state government for providing requisite facilities and structures for the training ground.
"These efforts", Gen Irabor noted, "is fast becoming a model" and urged other state governments to emulate the initiative to secure the forest reserves in their states.
Gen Irabor pointed out that the AFN undoubtedly remains a veritable tool for the implementation of government policy in the national security architecture. "We are more along the line of kinetic actions with minimal non-kinetic intervention”, he added.
Responding, Governor Ganduje commended the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor for the coordination and synergy among the defence and security agencies since his assumption of command as the CDS.
Ganduje added that his administration is looking forward to stronger ties with the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) in the area of security, particularly in securing the Falgore forest which he said, has become a hideout for bandits and other criminals.
Attributing some of the security challenges bedevilling the nation to partisan politics, the governor expressed confidence in the Defence Chief to succeed in the task of ensuring national security.
The Governor further informed the CDS that adequate cooperation and cordiality exist among the Armed Forces of Nigeria, security agencies, and paramilitary organisations in Kano state.
He revealed that the state government is equally deploying technology to curtail insecurity within Kano metropolis, adding that community policing in the state is also yielding positive results as anticipated.
The Governor expressed his condolences to the AFN on the demise of the late former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru, and ten other personnel, as well as other fallen heroes of the AFN who paid the supreme price for the peace and unity of Nigeria.
It would be recalled that in 2019, the Kano state government provided facilities worth N318 million, as support to the Nigerian Army, for the establishment of a multi-million Naira training center at Falgore Forest in Tudun Wada local government area of the state.
