By Ismaila Ajikobi, Abuja
In a bid to combat crime within the rural communities of the Federal Capital Territory, the FCT Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike has empowered security agencies to ensure their including vigilance groups with no fewer than 100 motorcycles for an improved rural policing.
Wike, while making the presentation in Abuja on Monday, specifically made it clear that the motorcycles are meant for rural policing, and that, it must not be found been use in the city center
While emphasizing the importance of the motorcycles towards enhancement of security in identified rural areas, he urged security agencies to ensure their proper utilization.
In his word: “I don’t want to hear stories tomorrow that the motorcycles are nowhere to be found again. Please utilize these motorcycles to fight crimes in the areas you have identified.”
He reiterated the commitment of the FCT Administration to prioritize security, promising continued support to safeguard lives and properties. Wike emphasized that the motorcycles were not for commercial purposes and should be exclusively used for security operations in rural areas.
He reiterated Administration’s plans to phase out motorcycles in the city center and instructed security agencies to distribute the motorcycles to their outposts accordingly. He warned that any misuse of the motorcycles would result in their retrieval.
In his response, Commandant General of the Vigilance Group of Nigeria VGN, Navy Captain Abubakar Bakori Umar(retd), commended the Minister for donating operational motorcycles to the group to enhance community security in the six Area Councils of the nation’s capital.
He thanked the minister for the good gesture, while assuring him that the operational motorcycles given to the group will be judiciously deployed to enhance and strengthen rural security in the FCT.
The Commandant General stated that officers and men of the VGN are well trained and are embedded in the communities and rural areas across the country where they assist the police and other security agencies with vital intelligence resulting in successful counter insurgency operations.
With the patrol motorcycles, the CG assured the minister and residents that they will enhance the operations and efficiency of VGN operatives while the incident response time will also be greatly reduced.
Speaking with newsmen, the FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Benneth Igweh, commended the Minister for the provision of motorcycles for the protection of the Area Councils, stating however that there were other areas in the FCT where the Police would also need speed boats and canoes.
“There are areas in this FCT you may not know. It is not just Maitama and Asokoro that are FCT. There are areas you will go where you will need these. We even need canoes and speed boats in some areas in Kuje and Bwari Area Councils. It will assist us in securing FCT. We are very grateful”.
