The Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, on Tuesday attended the official decoration ceremony for the Acting Chief of Army Staff, Major General Olufemi Oluyede, who was formally promoted to Lieutenant General at the Presidential Villa.
The high-profile event showcases the government’s ongoing commitment to enhancing national security.
Held at Aso Villa and attended by senior government and military officials, the ceremony reflects Nigeria’s renewed focus on bolstering military leadership to address insurgency, banditry, and other organized crime challenges.
In response to the ceremony, a group known as Nigeria Concerns Citizen, through a statement by its National Coordinator, Abubakar Mansur, expressed enthusiasm for Matawalle’s efforts.
According to Mansur, since taking office, Minister Matawalle has led various operations aimed at dismantling criminal networks across the country, particularly in Zamfara State, where banditry has severely impacted security and stability.
“His leadership has marked a shift toward decisive action against bandits,” Mansur noted, emphasizing recent accomplishments in Zamfara.
Among these, he highlighted the elimination of Halilu Sububu, a notorious bandit linked to multiple kidnappings and attacks in the region, a milestone Mansur described as a significant step toward restoring peace.
At the ceremony, Matawalle voiced confidence in Lieutenant General Oluyede’s capacity to lead Nigeria’s military in addressing the nation’s security challenges. “Today’s ceremony reflects the Federal Government’s unwavering commitment to bolstering Nigeria’s security infrastructure and honoring those who courageously serve our nation,” he said, promising continued support to the Nigerian Armed Forces.
The promotion of Lieutenant General Oluyede is perceived as part of a strategic push to reinforce Nigeria’s security framework and combat rising criminal activity. Mansur believes that the minister’s approach to high-impact operations against high-profile targets like Sububu could serve as an effective model for anti-crime strategies across the country.
