President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the military to respond robustly to cases of killings and kidnappings by bandits in Niger State and to give effect to strategic objectives through the use of force.

Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s spokesman, who revealed this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja, said the directive was handed over to the Defence Headquarters by the president.

The president stated that military operations had become necessary to check the continued attacks on communities in Niger by bandits and remnants of Boko Haram terrorists fleeing theatres of war in the North-Western and North-Eastern parts of the country.

In a message to the government and people of Niger, the president said:

“I will like to express sincere sympathies to the government and people of the state following recent security incidents.

“The Federal Government is willing to strengthen support and cooperation with all the states. I believe that with full cooperation citizens, we will surely overcome this problem.”

According to him, security is a responsibility of every member of the community and “only through solidarity and cooperation with law enforcement agencies can we defeat the problems finally.”

TheStar