When army chief led Ganduje, Doguwa, others to Falgore forest

Last week, Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, accompanied by the Brigade Commander, 3 Brigade, led Governor of Kano state, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Alhassan Ado Doguwa and other government officials to Falgore forest in Kano state, where Nigerian Army is conducting Exercise Harbin Kunama II, to stop activities of armed bandits and cattle rustlers. Musa Umar Bologi was there and reports.

Falgore forest, designated mainly for games protection in southern Kano state, has become a deadly plantation in recent times due to activities of armed bandits, cattle rustlers and kidnappers. The forest, which covers an area of about 1000 square kilometer, lies in Tudun Wada, Doguwa and Sumaila local government areas of Kano state, with boundary line between Kano, Kaduna and Bauchi states respectively.

On arriving Falgore town, the governor and other dignitaries were briefed at the troops’ assembly area on the nature of the exercise and the aim it was meant to achieve. Thereafter, the army chief led the dignitaries to the operation area, which was about two kilometers into the forest, on Hilux vehicles.

The army launched a special exercise in 2016 tagged Harbin Kunama I in Dan Sadau forest, Zamfara states, to deal with armed bandits and cattle rustler that terrorised residents of state. The exercise recorded success, as the area was cleared of the miscreants. Later many rustlers voluntarily surrender their weapons to authorities after being overpowered by military.
Faced with similar challenge like Zamfara, the army launched exercise Harbin Kunama II in Kafanchan, Kaduna state, and extended it to Falgore forest in Kano state, parts of Plateau and Bauchi states.

The environment of the harbin kunama II exercise was thickly forested with tall trees, short grasses and seasonal streams. Going into the troops’ exercise area in the forest from the main road was a difficult endeavour, as the vehicles meandered through tracks created by the troops and herds, crossing about two bridges and streams. While the vehicles galloped route, troops and journalists that sat at the back of the vehicles staggered, and held firm their cameras and weapons.

The visit afforded the governor a firsthand glimpse on the nature of the forest, which hitherto was a games reserve, but now used by bandits and rustlers for their nefarious activities against people living in surrounding towns and villages of Doguwa local government. It also provided the visitors with an understanding about military operations in the terrain and the challenges that might be encountered by troops.
A trek around the forest showed military equipment stationed in strategic places; while troops were inside trenches, aimed with General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG) and other weapons. Other artillery weapons were also mounted in different positions.

After about 10 minute trek in the forest, the army chief and governor spoke to journalists about the operation and expectations.
Buratai told journalists that the troops had dominated the forest after they flushed out the bandits and rustlers as well as other criminal elements using the environment as hideouts.
Buratai said that although the exercise had come to an end, troops would remain in the vast forests to keep the environment safe and secured.
According to him, during the exercise, many bandits, cattle rustlers, kidnappers and armed were arrested, while large quantity of arms and ammunition were recovered.

He said the various exercises conducted by the army across the country such as Crocodile Smile in the South-south and Python Dance in the South-east were aimed at ensuring security and safety in the areas.
He said the army had also undertaken humanitarian activities such as construction of bridges and provision of boreholes for the surrounding communities, apart from the operation they conducted in the areas.
Buratai said the Falgore forest had been turned into a training ground for the army.

Governor Abdullahi Ganduje noted that the bandits and rustlers had, before military intervention, found a safe haven in the forest where they terrorised the people.
Ganduje expressed happiness that the army had been able to flush them out, thereby making it safe for the people to carry out their legitimate activities.
“We had a lot of fear about the forest because of the hideout it provided for armed bandits and cattle rustlers who attack herders and people of the communities,” Ganduje said. “I complained to Mr. President who told me to discuss the issue with the Chief of Army Staff. Today, we thank God that the army has flushed them out of this area and people are experiencing peace once again.

“We have mobilised the local government chairman and people of the area to always provide the army with useful information bothering on security.”
He said that the state government would construct a dam in the forest to provide water for herdsmen to curtail their movements, thereby reducing the incident of farmers and herdsmen clashes in the area.
The governor assured the army and security agencies of support not only to secure the forest but the entire state.
Also, the Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Alhassan Doguwa,

whose constituency the forest is located, commended the army for clearing bandits from the area.
“Prior to the military exercise our people could not sleep for almost seven months for fear of attack by bandits, “ Doguwa said, while painting a picture of how terrible life was for the people around the forest. “ Bandits attacked them regularly and took away their belongings and ceasing their cattle.”
He said his visit to the forest had exposed him to the terrain of the forest, as well as challenges that troops might have faced while conducting their operations.

He said the National Assembly would ensure adequate budgetary provision for the military because of it “tremendous” work in safeguarding the country against the torments of insurgents and other criminal elements.
Doguwa promised that the house would give other military necessary support to enable it discharge its constitutional roles effectively.
A resident of falgore, Abdullahi Alkali, said the coming of the military had ensured peace in the area, adding that the action had “swipe out” bandits terrorising them in their farms and along the road.

“Before now, going to our farms was difficult, Alkali said. “ We were also afraid of travelling out of our communities, or go to markets in other communities, because bandits usually attack people on the road and their farms on daily basis. We thank the military for keeping our village safe again. As you can see people and vehicles can now pass this road to Kano and other place.”
While the army chief assured that troops will continue to  remain in the general area of the forest to ensure it remain rescued, Alkali like other residents of Falgore community and surrounding villages, feels more safe once again in the community of his birth.

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