Nigeria vows not to cede land to outlaws, declares Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has made it clear that Nigeria will not give up any part of its territory to criminals, while also praising the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies for their successful operations that resulted in the elimination of notorious bandit leader Ibrahim Bastuji.

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The president also commended the rescue of Hajiya Amina Rabe Abubakar, the widow of late former Chief of Defence Information, Major General Rabe Abubakar, who was freed from captivity in Katsina State just days after her husband's death while being held by his abductors.

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Security forces had killed the notorious bandit kingpin and his fighters in Kogi State, where they were allegedly planning to attack a school and residents of Iluke Bunu in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area.

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The operation that led to the bandit leader's death was a joint effort involving troops of the Nigerian Army, operatives of the Department of State Services, officers of the Nigeria Police Force, and personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

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Troops of the Nigerian Army were also responsible for rescuing the widow of the late Major General from bandits in Katsina State, in a military operation conducted by troops of the 17 Brigade in Tunga Village.

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During the operation, security forces engaged the kidnappers in a confrontation as part of ongoing efforts to dismantle criminal networks operating in the area, according to a statement issued on Tuesday by the President's Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

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The President described the operation against Bastuji in Kogi State as a significant setback for criminal networks operating in the region, noting that Bastuji had been linked to violent attacks, kidnappings, and other criminal activities that had caused hardship for residents of Kogi State and neighbouring communities.

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President Tinubu congratulated the troops on their decisive milestone, stating that Nigeria will not surrender any part of its territory to criminals and that those who choose the path of violence against innocent citizens will find no hiding place.

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The President noted that the neutralisation of the bandit kingpin would help restore public confidence and provide relief to communities affected by insecurity, and also praised security operatives for the successful rescue of Hajiya Amina Rabe Abubakar.

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The President described the rescue operation as evidence of the professionalism and commitment of the country's security forces, saying that the safe return of Hajiya Amina Rabe Abubakar is a source of relief to her family and to all Nigerians.

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President Tinubu commended the intelligence coordination and bravery of the officers and men who executed the rescue operation, acknowledging the debt of gratitude owed to the troops who risk their lives daily to keep Nigerians safe.

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The President reaffirmed his administration's commitment to supporting the military and other security agencies in the fight against banditry, kidnapping, and violent crime, assuring that the Federal Government would continue to provide the Armed Forces with the necessary resources, training, and operational support.

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President Tinubu urged Nigerians to cooperate with security agencies by providing timely and credible information that could assist ongoing efforts to combat criminality, reiterating that his administration remains committed to ensuring the safety of lives and property and restoring peace in affected communities across the country.