The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has ordered security personnel to immediately engage and neutralise bandits and terrorists once deployed, warning that any operative who delays action while waiting for approval would be regarded as a terrorist.
Musa issued the directive on Wednesday in Sokoto State during the commissioning of 62 operational vehicles and other security equipment worth N27.1 billion, procured by the Sokoto State Government to boost security operations across the state.
Addressing the troops, the Defence Minister declared:
> “Once you are deployed, do not wait for any order from anybody to shoot any bandit or any terrorist. I want to make that very loud and clear; anybody who refuses to shoot or kill any bandit or terrorist in the name of waiting for an order, we will treat you like a bandit.”
He also urged security personnel to ensure proper maintenance of the newly acquired equipment, noting the huge investment made by the state government.
> “It is important for those that will handle this equipment. This equipment cost billions of naira that could have been used for other aspects but have been dedicated to this. So I want to charge you that you must maintain this equipment very well. We will come after a year to see how this equipment is doing,” he said.
