The Governor of Niger State, Abubakar Sani Bello, has presented 29 operational Hilux pick-up vans to local government chairmen and vigilante groups to checkmate crimes and unrest in some troubled areas of the state.
While making the presentation at the state’s Government House in Minna, Northern Nigeria, Governor Bello expressed concern at the increasing rate of security challenges faced by his people, especially the rural dwellers, noting that the provision of the operational vehicles to the groups and some local government councils was to enable them effectively secured their areas.
Governor Bello who identified the vigilante groups as critical stakeholders in the face of recent security challenge in the state, especially at the rural areas, urged them to work closely with security agencies. He added that the recent security challenges was not only alien to the people but unacceptable to his administration and warned criminally minded people to relocate from the state.
Spokesperson to the governor, Jibrin Baba Ndace, said aside from the regular supports to security agencies to ensure the state is a safe place; Governor Bello reassured the people of the state of his resolve to adequately provide logistics to para-military agencies in a bid to take the battle to the door steps of criminally minded individuals in the state.
“We are committed to making Niger State safer. It has become necessary to assist the vigilante groups and security agencies in the state with operational vehicles so that they can move around and provide a safer state for us”.
The governor however commended the efforts of security agencies in the state and charged them to re-double their efforts at ridden the state of criminals. He also charged the beneficiaries to maintain and make judicious use of the vehicles.
Earlier, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Haliru Zakari Jikantoro said government provided the vehicles to facilitate the movement of council officials and members of vigilante groups to enable the effective delivery of their duties.
16 Hilux pick-up vans were given to vigilante groups, while 13 were given to Local Government Chairmen.
