By Peter Omopo
Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has vowed to investigate reports of a recent withdrawal of military personnel from certain vulnerable communities amid rising security concerns.
Matawalle made the pledge on Friday while responding to growing public anxiety over the alleged redeployment of troops from areas battling persistent bandit attacks.
The minister said the Federal Government would not condone any action capable of exposing citizens to danger, stressing that the protection of lives and property remains a top priority of the administration.
“We have received the reports, and I can assure Nigerians that a full investigation will be carried out to determine the circumstances surrounding the alleged troop withdrawal,” he said.
Matawalle added that the Defence Ministry was already engaging service chiefs to verify the claims and ensure that operational deployments are aligned with current security needs.
He assured affected communities that the government remains committed to strengthening security operations, maintaining troop presence where necessary, and ensuring that bandits and other criminal groups do not exploit any gaps.
The minister urged citizens to remain calm and continue to cooperate with security agencies as investigations progress.
