The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen Tukur Buratai, says the Nigerian Army has flushed out criminals from Falgore Forest and nearby communities in Kano State.
Buratai said this during a visit to the forest with Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, to inspect the outcome of the army’s operation in the forest, which was tagged Operation Harbin Kunama.
He said, “Your excellency, we are leaving Falgore Forest gladdened by what has been accomplished so far, our troops attached to Operation Harbin Kunama have done a critical but professional exercises here and its includes, arrests of many cattle rustlers, recovery of cattle and other domestic animals as well as arrest of Fulani Herdsmen who were hitherto creating disturbances around the area.”
The Nigerian Army had commenced the operation and set up the camp in the forest following the request the governor made to the Presidency, asking it to help in combating the problem of insecurity in and around the forest.
Governor Ganduje specifically wanted the Presidency to help tackle cattle rustling, clashes between herdsmen and farmers, armed robbery, kidnapping and other related crimes around the Falgore Forest axis.
In addition to eradicating these crimes, the chief of army staff informed the governor that the troops had also conducted various humanitarian exercises such as medical outreach, settlement of disputes over the ownership of farms.
After travelling deep into the forest, along with other senior army officers and top security and government officials, the governor said he was convinced that the Falgore Forest axis and nearby communities are now safe due to the operation.
He said, “Having seen the impact of the ground operation of the Nigerian Army here and having heard the report of the successes recorded from various intelligence sources, I am convinced that the issue of cattle rustling, herdsmen disturbances, armed robbery and kidnapping are now things of the past in this part of Kano State and do hereby officially declare operation Harbin Kunama a success and that the military camp be closed.”
