By; Mohammed Kawu, Bauchi.
Governor Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi State has reiterated his administration’s determination to continue giving the desired priority to the protection of lives and property in the state.
He made the remark Monday while presenting 25 vehicles to security operatives in the state at a ceremony held at Abubakar Umar Secretariat, Bauchi.
The Governor said that the vehicles were purchased by the state government in conjunction with Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs at the cost of over N232million to support the operations of the security operatives in the state.
Abubakar, who noted that criminal activities are becoming more sophisticated, said however that the state government as its obligation is always ready to pay serious attention to security issues, hence the decision to support the security operatives with such vehicles.
He explained that the country is facing security challenges such as cattle rustling, Kidnapping, Boko Haram insurgency, and armed robbery, among others, stressing that government was able to contain the situation, describing Bauchi state as the safest state in the Northeast sub region.
Also speaking at the occasion, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai commended the Bauchi state government for the kind gesture but appealed for more to ensure total coverage by security operatives to all nooks and crannies of the state.
Buratai warned security personnel not to use the vehicles for administrative purposes but for general operation, saying Nigerian Army would supply motorcycles to its officers to enable them patrol around rural areas.
Earlier the Commissioner For Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Ismaila Muhammad Isa had said that the vehicles are equipped with modern communication gadgets and procured to support security operations in the state.
Ten vehicles were provided to 33 Artillery Brigade, 9 to Bauchi Police Command, five to Department of State Services (DSS) and one to Zone 12 of the Nigeria Police Headquarters in Bauchi.
