Part of strategic move to curb banditry and protect vulnerable communities across the North-West, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has formally operationalized the 28 Armoured Brigade in Kebbi State, along with two newly established tactical units.
The newly deployed formations include the 28 Armoured Brigade and Garrison in Birnin Kebbi, the 281 Tank Battalion in Yauri, and the 381 Artillery Regiment in Kaoje.
Speaking at the ceremony on behalf of the COAS, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 8 Division, Nigerian Army, and Commander of Sector 2 Joint Task Force (North West) *Operation FANSAN YAMMA*, Major General Bemgba Paul Koughna, stated that the move aligns with the Army’s drive to optimize its force structure.
According to him, the expansion is designed to broaden the military’s operational footprints, strengthen command and control, and significantly reduce response times to security challenges in the region.
Addressing the newly appointed Acting Commander of the 28 Brigade, Colonel Abdullahi Umar, the GOC stressed that the strategic deployment is meant to provide robust fire support capabilities to boost overall operational effectiveness against criminal elements.
“Achieving lasting peace requires unwavering discipline, tactical focus, and seamless synergy among all security stakeholders,” Major General Koughna charged.
He further urged the troops to maintain high standards of professionalism, strictly adhere to the Rules of Engagement (RoE), and remain steadfast in protecting law-abiding citizens while carrying out their constitutional mandate.
Following the ceremony, Major General Koughna commiserated with residents of the Jandutse community over the recent loss of a local in a bandit attack. He assured the community of an immediate increase in military presence to guarantee their safety and suppress further threats.
Responding to the assurance, community leaders expressed gratitude to the military leadership for its ongoing efforts to restore lasting peace to Kebbi State and surrounding areas.
