Reps Deputy Spokesperson Mobilises Public Support for Operation Savannah Shield
Hon. Philip Agbese, the deputy spokesperson of the House of Representatives, has launched a vigorous campaign to rally nationwide public support for the Nigerian military's newly inaugurated Operation Savannah Shield. The special security operation was recently deployed to combat escalating terrorism and banditry in Kwara state and parts of neighbouring Niger state.
Operation Officially Flagged Off at Sobi Barracks
The multi-agency security operation was formally launched at the Sobi Barracks in Ilorin on Thursday, February 19, with Kwara state governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq presiding over the ceremony alongside senior military leadership. The Chief of Defence Staff, Lt. General Olufemi Oluyede, and the Chief of Army Staff, General Waidi Shaibu, were present at the official commencement, which followed presidential approval from President Bola Tinubu.
Governor AbdulRazaq described the operation as "a big relief" to residents, particularly those in communities that have suffered from persistent banditry and kidnapping activities. The deployment comes as a direct response to renewed attacks by suspected terrorists and bandits in the Kaiama axis of Kwara North and adjoining communities in Niger state, raising significant concerns about the spread of criminal networks across forested regions in Nigeria's North-Central zone.
Agbese Praises Military Coordination and Calls for Citizen Support
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Saturday, February 21, Hon. Philip Agbese commended the Chief of Defence Staff for initiating what he termed a comprehensive joint military operation designed to flush out insecurity from the North Central region. The lawmaker, who represents Benue state—one of the areas affected by rising violence—noted that the North Central region has witnessed increasing security challenges that have displaced hundreds of inhabitants in recent times.
"The renewed cooperation, where rivalry has become a thing of the past, is a clear indication that the Armed Forces have surmounted internal obstacles that did not help in the past," Agbese stated, highlighting improved inter-service coordination within the military as a positive development.
Agbese emphasized that with the Armed Forces currently enjoying robust support from international stakeholders and partners, particularly the United States, it is imperative for Nigerian citizens to unite in backing the military's efforts. He announced the launch of a public advocacy campaign aimed at galvanizing nationwide support for the Armed Forces, urging citizens to collaborate with security agencies to defeat all forms of terrorism across the country.
Joint Task Force Composition and Mandate
According to military officials, Operation Savannah Shield comprises personnel from the Nigerian Army, Navy, and Air Force operating as a joint task force. The operation's mandate includes:
- Securing lives and property in affected regions
- Neutralizing criminal elements operating in forested areas
- Disrupting kidnapping activities and terrorist networks
- Restoring peace and stability to communities
The Chief of Defence Staff described the operation as a proactive and coordinated response specifically designed to dismantle terrorist and criminal networks operating within the region. This strategic approach marks a significant shift in how Nigeria addresses complex security challenges that span multiple states and involve various armed groups.
Security Expert Warns Against Fragmented View of Threats
Meanwhile, security expert Kabir Adamu has cautioned against viewing Nigeria's security challenges in a disaggregated manner. Speaking during a recent television interview, Adamu explained that an ecosystem comprising multiple armed groups is responsible for the violence in Kwara state, including bandits and terrorist organizations.
"It is not a case of either or. It is an ecospace that consists of several groups. The bandits are there, the terrorist groups are there," Adamu stated, noting that groups affiliated with Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), a Sahel-based Al-Qaeda affiliate, have claimed responsibility for attacks in Kwara state.
This analysis underscores the complexity of the security landscape that Operation Savannah Shield must navigate, requiring sophisticated intelligence gathering and coordinated military responses across service branches and state boundaries.
Call for Intelligence Sharing and National Unity
Hon. Philip Agbese concluded his remarks with a passionate appeal for national unity and citizen participation in security efforts. "I have always been an ardent supporter of the Armed Forces, even as an ordinary citizen," he declared, expressing inspiration from the current military leadership and President Bola Tinubu's reform agenda.
The lawmaker called on Nigerians to actively cooperate with the Nigerian Armed Forces by sharing credible intelligence that would enable security forces to successfully identify and neutralize criminal elements terrorizing communities. He expressed optimism that with sustained cooperation between government institutions, the military, and citizens, Nigeria would decisively overcome its security challenges.
Operation Savannah Shield represents the latest in a series of military initiatives aimed at addressing Nigeria's multifaceted security crisis, with particular focus on the North Central region where inter-communal violence, banditry, and terrorism have created complex humanitarian and security situations requiring coordinated responses from both security forces and civilian populations.
