Matawalle orders more military hardware after Kano attack

The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, on Monday visited the Kano State Government House over the August 29, 2026, attack in Chiroma Village, Garun Mallam Local Government Area, assuring the state government of the Federal Government’s support to tackle insecurity.

Matawalle said additional fighting vehicles, weapons and other operational equipment would be provided to the military to strengthen ongoing operations, following the reported attack and subsequent rescue of kidnapped victims by troops in Garun Mallam.

The Minister’s visit came after the incident, which prompted a coordinated rescue operation led by the Commander, 3 Brigade, Kano, Brigadier General Jimoh.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by Matawalle’s Personal Assistant on Media, Ahmad Dan-Wudil, troops from the Joint Task Force deployed from the Hawan-Kwano and Kwanar Dangora camps participated in the operation.

The victims were rescued around the Yan-Kifi Bridge and Marabar Kwari areas of Garun Mallam Local Government Area, the statement said.

Matawalle commended the troops and other security personnel for their response.

He said the Federal Government would continue to strengthen the operational capacity of the Armed Forces and other security agencies.

“The President has recently constituted a committee that will come up with the Five-Year Defence and Security Plan,” Matawalle said.

He said the government would deploy available measures and develop new strategies to confront the country’s security challenges.

“We will continue doing everything possible to support our security services to ensure that our country is safe.

“I can assure you that soon, the issue of insecurity will be a thing of the past, and that we will all live in peace and prosperity in this country,” he stated.

Matawalle, however, stressed that tackling insecurity required cooperation among the Federal Government, states and local governments.

“It takes a combined effort of all of us, at the local government level, state and federal levels. All of the levels, we need to come together to tackle this issue of insecurity,” he said.

He also urged Nigerians to provide timely and credible information to security agencies to support efforts to tackle insecurity.

Earlier, Matawalle held a security meeting with the Commander, 3 Brigade, and other military commanders in Kano.

He directed the commanders to sustain ongoing operations and intensify efforts to secure their areas of responsibility.

The Minister assured the commanders of continued Federal Government support.

He also disclosed plans to provide additional fighting vehicles, weapons and other operational equipment for security operations.

The Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, thanked the Minister for the visit.

Yusuf said the state government remained committed to working with the Federal Government to improve security across Kano.

“We are very confident in you and at the state level we will continue to do what it needs to do, to ensure security and stability in Kano,” the governor said.

Yusuf said the state would continue to support efforts aimed at preventing insecurity from taking root in the state.