Birnin Gwari killings: Buhari blows hot, approves creation of Army battalion, Police command

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the establishment of a new Battalion of the Nigerian Army, as well as a new Police Area Command in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, as part of measures to scale up the security response to the banditry affecting the area.

In a statement on Monday by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, Buhari condemned the latest massacre of innocent Nigerians in the area.

According to him, “I am deeply outraged by this unwarranted, unprovoked and reckless destruction of lives by bandits who belong to the lowest level of civilization. I feel the pains and devastation of the families of the victims, and this administration will do everything possible to ensure we defeat these enemies of humanity.”

The statement said the new Army Battalion and the Police Area Command were the latest in a series of law enforcement measures to ensure effective protection of lives and property, in and around Benue, Kaduna, Taraba, Zamfara and Nasarawa States.

It added: “Last week the Nigerian Air Force took delivery of two new helicopter gunships, for deployment to parts of the country affected by banditry. A Quick Response Wing has also been established by the Nigerian Air Force in Taraba State, while a Joint Military Intervention Force is fully on ground in Benue.

“President Buhari assures that security remains a priority for his government and his administration will not tolerate the persistent killing of innocent people in order to set Nigerians against one another.

“These persistent killings are not spontaneous; there are subterranean forces with a sinister agenda to instigate war in the country for selfish purposes.”

Buhari said although unconventional war was particularly complicated, security forces were making rigorous efforts to better understand the enemies, with a view to decisively checkmating their evil attacks.

He further extended his condolences to the families of the victims, the government and the people of Kaduna State over the unfortunate tragedy, assuring that his government would never abandon them to their fate.