In response to recent kidnapping incidents in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Minister Nyesom Wike has allocated 60 motorcycles to the Department of State Services, DSS, and the Vigilance Group of Nigeria ,VGN.
Additionally, 30 motorcycles were provided to the Nigeria Police, and five each to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC.
During the handover ceremony in Abuja on Monday, April 15, Wike emphasized that these motorcycles should be used exclusively in remote areas of the territory to enhance security efforts.
Addressing the VGN, Wike urged them to collaborate with the police and other security agencies in combating crimes, particularly in rural FCT areas. He commended the group for their dedication to safeguarding lives and property in the nation’s capital.
He said, “Remember that security agencies requested specialized motorcycles that will be used, particularly in rural areas. The vigilance teams will use them in the six area councils, and then the police, the SSS, and the Civil Defence will also want to do theirs.
“Let me caution, particularly to the security agencies. I don’t want to hear stories tomorrow that the motorcycles are nowhere to be found again. I don’t want to hear such stories, because sometimes when you give out vehicles, before you know it, the vehicles are no longer there. Please utilize these motorcycles to fight crimes in the areas you have identified. Ordinarily, the Chairmen of the Area Councils ought to handle this, but this is our support for them in the councils.
“Make sure that these motorcycles are given out to the vigilance teams, and we are going to provide logistics for those who are going to use these motorcycles. We are going to provide logistics for them. We have promised the residents of Abuja and the area councils that security is a priority for the Renewed Hope Agenda. Anything we can do to protect lives and properties, we are going to do it. So, I urge you to use it well and not for commercial purposes. I don’t want to see the motorcycles in the city here. It should be used in rural areas, so it should not be used here.
“We are already trying to see how we can phase out motorcycles here, so please let it be taken to the rural areas. All the security agencies, the outposts, give it to them. We do not want to continue to hear excuses that the terrain is so bad, they require this and that and they have not been given. Now that you have been given, these may not be enough, we will continue to provide more.
“For vehicles, we believe by the next two weeks, the vehicles would have been ready to give out to the security agencies. For us, we will not relent until those who say we will not sleep, they too will also not sleep”.
In his response, the Commandant General of the Vigilance Group of Nigeria VGN, Navy Captain Abubakar Bakori Umar , commended the Minister for donating operational motorcycles to the group to enhance community security in the six Area Councils of the nation’s capital.
While thanking Wike for the good gesture, the VGN boss assured the Minister that the operational motorcycles given to the group would be judiciously deployed to enhance and strengthen rural security in the FCT.
The Commandant General noted that officers and men of the VGN are well trained and are embedded in 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 would enhance the operations and efficiency of VGN operatives, while the incident response time would also be greatly reduced.
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