Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, Tuesday, attended the decoration ceremony of the Acting Chief of Army Staff, Major General Olufemi Oluyede, who was formally promoted to Lieutenant General at the Presidential Villa, underscoring the government’s commitment to national security.
The event, which held at Aso Villa and attended by senior government and military officials, signals a renewed push from Nigerian leadership to combat insurgency and empower military leaders in the ongoing fight against banditry and other forms of organized crime.
Nigeria Concerns Citizen in a statement by its National Coordinator, Abubakar Mansur, said since assuming office, Minister Matawalle has spearheaded numerous operations to dismantle criminal networks across the country, with a particular focus on Zamfara state, where banditry has long been a destabilizing force.
“His leadership has marked a shift toward decisive action against bandits, according to sources close to the minister.
According to him,”Among Matawalle’s recent achievements is the elimination of Halilu Sububu, one of Zamfara State’s most notorious bandits.
” Sububu was known for orchestrating kidnappings and attacks in the region, posing a significant threat to local security and stability.”
The cordinator say Matawalle’s role in neutralizing such high-profile targets has strengthened morale within Nigeria’s security forces.
At the ceremony, Matawalle expressed confidence in Lieutenant General Oluyede’s ability to lead Nigeria’s military efforts.
“Today’s ceremony reflects the Federal Government’s unwavering commitment to bolstering Nigeria’s security infrastructure and honoring those who courageously serve our nation,” Matawalle said, pledging continued support to the Nigerian Armed Forces.
The promotion of Lieutenant General Oluyede is widely seen as part of a broader national strategy to reinforce security infrastructure and tackle rising criminality across Nigeria.
Mansur believe the minister’s focus on high-impact, targeted operations against notorious bandits could serve as a model for anti-crime strategies nationwide.
