Nigeria won’t surrender any territory to criminals, says Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has declared that Nigeria will not surrender any territory to criminals, commending the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies for successfully eliminating notorious bandit leader Ibrahim Bastuji.

The president also hailed the rescue of Hajiya Amina Rabe Abubakar, the widow of the late former Chief of Defence Information, Major General Rabe Abubakar. Security forces had killed the bandit kingpin and his fighters in Kogi State while they were allegedly planning to attack a school and residents in Iluke Bunu, Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area. The joint operation involved the Nigerian Army, Department of State Services, Nigeria Police Force, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

In Katsina State, troops of the Nigerian Army rescued Mrs. Abubakar from bandits' captivity in Tunga Village during a military operation. This rescue occurred days after her husband died while being held by his abductors. The operation involved a confrontation with the kidnappers as part of ongoing efforts to dismantle criminal networks.

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I congratulate our gallant troops on this decisive milestone. Nigeria will not surrender any part of its territory to criminals. Those who choose the path of violence against innocent citizens will find no hiding place. This success reflects the renewed determination of our security forces to secure every inch of our land.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu described the operation against Bastuji in Kogi State as a significant setback for criminal networks in the region. He stated that Bastuji was linked to violent attacks and kidnappings that caused hardship for residents. "Nigeria will not surrender any part of its territory to criminals," Tinubu asserted. "Those who choose the path of violence against innocent citizens will find no hiding place."

Tinubu noted that neutralizing the bandit kingpin would help restore public confidence and provide relief to affected communities. He also praised the security operatives for the successful rescue of Hajiya Amina Rabe Abubakar, calling it evidence of the professionalism and commitment of the country's security forces. "The safe return of Hajiya Amina Rabe Abubakar is a source of relief to her family and to all Nigerians," he said. The President reaffirmed his administration's commitment to supporting the military and other security agencies in their fight against banditry, kidnapping, and violent crime.

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The safe return of Hajiya Amina Rabe Abubakar is a source of relief to her family and to all Nigerians. I commend the intelligence coordination and bravery of the officers and men who executed the rescue operation. We owe a debt of gratitude to our troops who risk their lives daily to keep us safe.