Nigerian Army deploys 300 female soldiers to Kaduna-Abuja highway

In a renewed effort at checking the activities of armed bandits and kidnappers in the Northern part of the country, the Nigerian Army on Tuesday deployed 300 female soldiers to the Kaduna- Abuja highway to protect road users and residents of the surrounding communities.

The Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who received the first batch of 100 female soldiers on Wednesday, expressed optimism that the additional deployment of soldiers to the highway would help to consolidate the successes recorded by the troops on ground.

The governor later handed over the soldiers’ residential accommodation to the Nigerian Army.

This is the first time the Nigerian Army will deploy female soldiers for internal security operations in the country.

The female officers have been drafted into the Operation Thunder Strike of the Nigerian Army currently conducting a special operation in the state.

Makinde deploys 200 Amotekun corps officers to Ibarapaland over herdsmen crisis

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on Wednesday said the state has deployed 200 officers of the Oyo State Security Network, otherwise known as Amotekun to the troubled Igangan in Ibarapa Local Government Area of the state.

Makinde disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, adding that the move followed a meeting with security agencies and stakeholders from the crisis ridden area.

Igangan, an ancient town in Ibarapa area of Oyo State has been the scene of skirmishes between residents, led by a Yoruba activist, Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho and Fulani herdsmen, who residents accused of perpetrating crimes including killings, maiming, kidnapping for ransom and destruction of farms in the area.

The Governor said in the statement: “Following the meeting held with representatives of Igangan, Ibarapaland which was attended by security stakeholders including the recently appointed Commissioner of Police, Oyo State, Mrs. Ngozi Onadeko, our administration has come up with a security strategy for that zone.

“We have resolved to redeploy 200 members of the Oyo State Western Nigeria Security Network codenamed Amotekun to kidnapping/banditry hotspots in the state, especially in the Ibarapa and Oke-Ogun zones.

“These operatives will launch missions to rid the forests of criminals. They will be presenting daily reports of their activities to me in the short run and periodic reports in the long run.

“In the next few weeks, we’ll hold town hall meetings and community outreaches, bringing together residents and security agencies to talk about any issues of immediate concern and how they can be resolved through dialogue and more effective community policing.”