The Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has again rallied public support for the security forces involved in counterterrorism operations in the State, appealing to citizens to avoid giving out information on troops' movement.
In a brief interview with reporters on the sideline of his visit to the three soldiers injured in a recent bandits' ambush against troops, Governor AbdulRazaq said militants were able to mount ambush for troops based on intelligence they received from some members of the public who act as informants.
He said such practices are a sabotage, adding that security operatives were doing so much to keep the country safe.
AbdulRazaq was received at the facility by the Commander of the 22 Armoured Brigade, Nigerian Army, Sobi Barracks, Ilorin, Brig. Gen. Nicholas Nemetne Rume, and the chief medical director of the hospital, Prof. Abdullah Yusuf.
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The governor sympathised with the families of the soldiers killed in the ambush, announcing a donation of N20m each to them and N5m each to the three who were injured.
He said the development attested to the sacrifice the uniformed men make to keep the country safe for all.
He commended the security agencies for their selfless service and urged Nigerians to continue to support them in the national task.
"We are here to visit the soldiers who were ambushed by bandits. Unfortunately, we lost three of them and we have three of them receiving treatment in the hospital here. What we can do is to pray for them and support the families of those who died. May their souls rest in peace.
"We appreciate their selfless service to the state, to the federation, and to the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. For those who died, we would give their families N60 million, just as a stop-gap support until the Ministry of Defense takes care of them appropriately as they normally do.
"Those in the hospital, we will give them N5 million each so that their families can take care of them.
"Once again, this shows the danger that the security men go through every day. They are always in the line of danger to keep us safe.
"I urge that all hands should be on the deck in this battle against banditry and terrorism," the governor said.
