The Kaduna Peace Advancement Network (KSPAN) has warned bandits in the state to either surrender or suffer the same fate as Boko Haram terrorists in the Northeast.
The group, in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Hassan Abu, on Wednesday, advised the criminal elements that failure to submit themselves to the military would ultimately lead to their deaths.
In the last one month, the Nigerian troops have bombarded Boko Haram terrorists, with factional leader, Abubakar Shekau, reaching out for a truce, as all his top commanders have been decimated.
This remarkable feat was orchestrated by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt. Gen. T.Y, who led the troops from the front.
With the final clearance mission in Borno and Yobe States winding down, KSPAN said all attention will be switched to Kaduna, warning the bandits that it would no longer be business as usual.
While commending the troops of Operations Thunder strike and Whirl Punch for restoring peace to the state, the group, however, advised the fleeing bandits and their sponsors to take a new leaf else be wiped out like Boko Haram.
Read full statement below:
The Kaduna State Peace Advancement Network (KSPAN) has called on all criminal elements operating in Kaduna State to surrender in the wake of the current operations by the Nigerian military against all forms of banditry or be crushed.
KSPAN is a citizens’ right group for the advancement of peaceful living and for infrastructural development in Kaduna State.
The Network stated as follows:
That the Nigerian military last week, eliminated 17 bandits in Gwagwada district of Chikun local government area of Kaduna State.
The operation according to reports, was carried out by troops of Operations Thunder strike and Whirl Punch with air support from the Air Component of Operation GAMA AIK that saw to the firing of bandits many of whom escaped with gunshot wounds.
Many communities in Chikun Local Government of Kaduna State have in the past come under various forms of banditry ranging from kidnapping to outright criminal attacks.
That between October last year and now, millions of naira have been fleeced from innocent and hapless citizens as ransom for kidnapping, and as stolen booties.
We note particularly that it was in this local government that female students of a secondary school were kidnapped last year and were not released until ransom was paid.
That it was also in a community in Chikun LG that the wife of a popular medical doctor in Kaduna was abducted along with her two children and later killed after ransom has been paid.
The activities of criminals operating within these suburbs has turned Chikun which used to be one the commercially active and vibrant local governments in the Kaduna metropolis to lose its shine as residents abandon their houses to seek shelter in other parts of the metropolis.
Last week’s prompt action by the military has saved the community, Kaduna State and indeed Nigeria another round of weeping and regrets
The swift action of the military which took out the criminals in their numbers is the kind of action needed to send strong signals to the criminals that Nigerians have borne enough of their stupidity and will no longer tolerate same.
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The military has done very well by this action as there were no civilian casualties even though the operation took place in the Gwagwa community.
We are happy to note that residents who initially fled the area due to fear of bandits’ reprisal attack, have all returned to the community and are living peacefully.
The military has been on top of its game lately with the way it is handling major operations from the insurgency in the Northeast to criminal activities in many parts of Nigeria.
We urge the armed forces to maintain the tempo of these operations to remind criminal elements that it would no longer be business as usual for them and to reassure citizens of their safety.
We thank the military for helping to restore Kaduna to its once respected position as one of the most peaceful and prosperous places to live.
Sponsors of these criminals should note that it is high time they surrender and turn a new leaf as even the dreaded Boko Haram criminals who have come under intense heat lately have already given the indication that they would soon down their weapons in surrender.
It is needless to emphasise that the days of criminals and their sponsors are numbered and it will do them a lot of good to learn from Boko Haram and surrender to before it is too late.
NAN