To repel the banditry that has ravaged Zamfara State and other parts of the North-west and North-central states, President Muhammadu Buhari has declared the state a no-fly-zone.
A no-fly zone, also known as a no-flight zone (NFZ), or air exclusion zone (AEZ) is a territory or area established by a military power over which certain aircraft are not permitted to fly.
Such zones are usually set up in an enemy power’s territory during a conflict, similar in concept to the aerial demilitarised zone.
The National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, announced this at the end of the National Security Council meeting held in the Presidential Villa.
According to the NSA, the president also banned all mining activities in the state. He had announced a similar ban in 2019.
He said the ban is to curb the rising insecurity.
He noted that the intelligence and security communities have been mandated to go after all non-state actors, whose activities have been fueling chaos, for prosecution.
“He has charged the new service chiefs to reclaim all areas under the control of bandits, insurgents and kidnappers, kidnappers, and all others involved in criminal activities across the country.
“We are not going to be blackmailed. The government has the responsibility to assert its will. Citizens can reside wherever they want to reside. Anybody who is a criminal should be brought to book.
“The president has also warned against ethnic profiling. We have (had) enough of chaos. Any individual that thinks he can cause disunity should have a rethink,” Mr. Monguno said.
The development is following the abductions of school children by armed bandits in parts of the country.
Last Friday, students of Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe, Zamfara were abducted amidst the worsening security situation across the country.
So far, 219 of 317 abducted schoolgirls have been released, the rest are yet to regain freedom.
- Breaking: Ohanaeze President General, George Obiozor, confirmed dead - December 28, 2022
- US to support NDLEA on improved intelligence gathering capacity - December 27, 2022
- Why diversified HIV/AIDS prevention tools matter for women - December 26, 2022
