As part of measures to ensure troops of the Nigerian Army curtail banditry in Sokoto State, Governor Ahmed Aliyu on Friday supported the Nigerian Military with 10 additional vehicles to boost security in the state.

Speaking while presenting the vehicles to the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mutawalle, the governor commended President Bola Tinubu’s concern about the security challenges facing the nation.

He said the presidential directives that the Minister for Defence and service chiefs relocate to Sokoto is a clear indication of his commitment towards tackling banditry and other forms of criminality not only in Sokoto but the North-West in general.

“When I met Mr President, we discussed extensively the security situation in our dear state, and he assured me of his support towards putting an end to all the security challenges affecting us.

“Mr President has redeemed his pledge by sending the Honourable Minister and service chiefs and Alhamdullahi, we are seeing the results., we thank Mr President most sincerely”, he added.

Aliyu further said the 10 patrol vehicles given to the military were in addition to the 100 vehicles earlier given to security agencies to fight banditry in the state.

He reassured all of his commitment to offering a helping hand to the security agencies so that together the state can be secured.

The governor also vowed to commit the state’s resources to guarantee the safety of lives and property of the people of the state.

“Security is number 1 in my nine-point agenda, therefore, we would do whatever it takes within the ambit of the law to protect our people,” he vowed.

The governor also commended the Minister for State, Defence, for the commitment he has shown in getting the North-West out of the security quagmire.

“The minister has shown resilience and bravery by penetrating what used to be a ‘NO GO AREA’ and had even opened up areas that were hitherto deserted by our people,” he averred.

Aliyu appealed to the people of the state to continue to pray for Mr President to succeed in the task of securing the nation.

In his remarks, Matawalle said the presidential directive that they relocate to Sokoto was a result of the intense pressure the governor kept mounting on Tinubu on the need to come to the rescue of the state.

“Mr Governor, I want to tell you that because of the seriousness you have shown in addressing the security challenges in the state, Mr President has approved the purchase of CMG vehicles that would be stationed in Sokoto under a new operation code-named “FANSAR YAMMA “, aimed at securing the North-West,” he disclosed.

He assured Aliyu that the military was with him, and would continue to support him in ensuring a lasting peace in the state.

The minister extolled Aliyu’s zeal and commitment to making Sokoto a crime-free state.

“The people of Sokoto are lucky to have Ahmed Aliyu as their leader because he has the state at heart.

“I want to assure the Governor that we would use these vehicles provided to us judiciously to flush out bandits from Sokoto state,” he assured.

The GOC 8 Div. Nigerian Army Sokoto, Brig.-Gen. Ibikunle Ajose thanked the Governor for all the support he has been giving to the military in the state and assured him of their readiness to stop banditry.

The minister in the company of his host and some military officers later rode on one of the Buffalo vans donated by the governor.

PUNCH