Amid rising insecurity in Northwestern Nigeria, Maj.-Gen. Bello Idris, newly appointed commander of the Joint Task Force Northwest, has unveiled plans to eradicate banditry in Zamfara through enhanced operations and community engagement.
Idris, who assumed command in November, made the pledge during his maiden courtesy visit to Gov. Dauda Lawal in Gusau on Tuesday, stressing that clearing Zamfara of banditry is critical to ending insecurity across the country.
Redeployed from the Defence Department of Transformation and Innovation following recent postings by the Nigerian Army Headquarters, Idris said his strategy would introduce new operational concepts focused on efficiency and deeper community collaboration.
“Many bandits live within local communities or maintain strong alliances with locals, which we will dismantle head-on”, he said. Zamfara will be the initial focus as the military intensifies efforts to disrupt and dismantle bandit networks.
The commander confirmed that additional manpower, logistics, and equipment are being deployed, and that the operation will adopt a mobile and aggressive posture to ensure success in the coming weeks.
Idris oversees joint operations across the Northwest and parts of the North Central regions, including Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Sokoto, and Zamfara. He emphasized that community collaboration will be essential for intelligence gathering, information sharing, and logistical support.
The commander also commended Gov. Lawal for improving road infrastructure and supporting the troops under his command.
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