FIC Report (Niger State) – Niger State Governor, farmer Mohammed Umaru Bago has advocated the need for the formation of Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) to block the entrance of miscreants from neighbouring states to the state.
Farmer Governor Umaru Bago made the suggestion when he received the Theatre Commander, Joint Taskforce North West, Operation Fansan Yamma, Maj. Gen. Warrah Idris, and his entourage on a courtesy visit in Minna, the state capital.
He said the FOBs are needed, especially in Mailaka and Kurege in the Mariga local government area of the state.
The farmer governor also requested that 25,000 Nigerlites be recruited as soldiers to help in fighting insecurity in the state.
“We are willing as a state to help you to recruit 25,000 youths to go after these people”, he stressed.
While expressing concern about assets that have been neglected in Kainji Lake National Park and other places in Borgu Local Government due to the activities of bandits, making the areas safe havens, farmer governor Bago expressed optimism that the operation Fansan Yamma will bring an end to the menace in no time.
He acknowledged the efforts of the military and other security agencies in taming the tide of insecurity in parts of the state and also appealed for the deployment of more equipment and air components, considering the size of the state.
The farmer governor highlighted some non-kinetic approaches being deployed by his administration to ensure peace and assured Maj. Gen. Idris and his team of necessary support and cooperation to ensure the success of their operations.
The Theatre Commander, Joint Taskforce North-West, Operation Fansan Yamma, Maj. Gen. Warrah Idris, revealed that he has sectors 1, 2, and 3 under his command, and one of the sectors covers parts of Niger State.
He further explains that his visit was to familiarise himself with all locations under his command, assess and evaluate the situation, and terrain as well as boost the morale of his troops.
Maj. Gen. Idris said the mandate given to him and his team by the Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Defence Staff, and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is to ensure security of the citizens of Nigeria.
“We are here to ensure that the task given is executed to the last limit. We are here to ensure that we eradicate banditry, terrorism, and other acts of crime,” he emphasised.
The theatre commander said assessments have been made and will soon bring out the maps for necessary actions.
He, however, said operations are ongoing in Kainji Lake National Park and Babana, among other areas in Borgu, to clear and strangulate the bandits in the axis.
Operation Fansan Yamma is a joint military theatre command established by the federal government to tackle insecurity in the North-West and parts of North-Central, Nigeria.
Signed
USMAN TSWACHI
I&PRO
FOR: HOC MINNA
13TH, NOVEMBER, 2025
