Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has called for the establishment of Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) to prevent bandits and other criminal groups from entering the state through neighboring regions.
Bago made the appeal on Thursday while receiving the Theatre Commander of Operation Fansan Yamma, Maj. Gen. Warrah Idris, and his team at the Government House in Minna.
He said the proposed bases should be located in Mailaka and Kurege, both in Mariga Local Government Area, to strengthen security operations. The governor also urged the military to recruit 25,000 youths from Niger State to support the ongoing fight against insecurity.
“We are willing as a state to help you recruit 25,000 youths to go after these people,” he said.
Bago expressed concern that bandit activities had forced the abandonment of key assets, including those in Kainji Lake National Park and parts of Borgu Local Government Area, turning them into criminal hideouts. He, however, expressed optimism that Operation Fansan Yamma would restore peace to affected communities.
The governor commended the military and other security agencies for their efforts and requested additional equipment and air support, noting the vast size of the state. He also highlighted his administration’s use of non-kinetic strategies to promote peace and pledged full cooperation with the military.
In his remarks, Maj. Gen. Idris said his visit was part of efforts to assess security conditions across areas under his command, which includes parts of Niger State. He explained that Operation Fansan Yamma has three sectors and operates under the directives of the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Defence Staff, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“We are here to ensure that the task given is executed to the last limit. We are here to eradicate banditry, terrorism, and other crimes,” he stated.
Idris said the command had completed assessments and would soon deploy detailed operational maps. He confirmed that ongoing operations in Kainji Lake National Park, Babana, and other areas in Borgu were aimed at clearing remaining bandit hideouts.
Operation Fansan Yamma is a joint military initiative created by the Federal Government to combat insecurity across the North-West and parts of the North-Central region.
