By Mohammed Baba Busu
Gov. Mohammed Bago of Niger has donated 20 operational Hilux vehicles to security agencies to fight crime in the state.
This is contained in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Bologi Ibrahim, and made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Minna.
Inaugurating the vehicles at the government house, Bago said he was concerned over security challenges in the state capital.
The governor said he was optimistic that the vehicles would help to curb the menace.
He advised the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ogundele Ayodeji, to make effective use of the vehicles to address insecurity within the Minna metropolis and its environs.
“I am giving you a matching order from this point to go after the hoodlums and bring them to book,” Bago charged.
The governor also directed that the building where anyone was found selling hard drugs should be confiscated and demolished.
“This is intended to flush out hoodlums and criminals within the metropolis in particular and the state as a whole.
”A lot of drug trafficking and drug-related issues are happening in Minna. Therefore, anybody warehousing drug dealers or cartel in his premises is doing so at his or her own risk,” he warned.
Bago stressed that his administration had zero tolerance for drugs and other forms of criminalities.
Responding, Ayodeji commended the governor for providing operational vehicles to aid their work and to ensure the safety of the lives and property of residents.
He assured that the people of the state would breathe a sigh of relief as his men and other sister agencies would swing into action immediately.
Out of the 20 operational vehicles, branded “Operation Flush”, the Police received 12, while the State Security Service and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps got two each.
Also, the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, the Hunters Group, and the Anti-Drug Committee were allocated one each. (NAN)
