Zulum Boosts Security: Distributes 610 Patrol Vehicles, Motorcycles to Tackle Terrorism in Borno
By Tada Juthan, Maiduguri
The Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, has distributed 610 patrol vehicles and motorcycles to military and police in fighting terrorism and kidnapping in the Northeast.
According to him, the distribution of the patrol vehicles will strengthen security architecture of the security agencies protect people’s lives and property in the state.
Presenting the vehicles and motorcycles to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun on Friday, in Maiduguri.
,”The effective utilisation of these patrol vehicles and motorcycles will enhance troops’ and policemen’s rapid responses to security threats and attacks in communities and roads,” Zulum said.
He noted that the distributed 300 motorcycles could also assist the troops in fighting the insurgents in the difficult terrains of Sambisa Forest and the Lake Chad region.
In a breakdown of vehicles, he said: “Out of 610 patrol vehicles, 60 be allocated to the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) in the state, while 50 patrol vehicles be deployed to the military for it’s counter-terrorism operations.
The governor also clarified that the 500 motorcycles are strategically deployed to the difficult terrains that could not be accessible with the patrol vehicles, including Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs).
He added that the patrol vehicles and motorcycles will add value to tackling security issues, including the overcome of security challenges in the forest and Lake Chad region.
In strengthening the policemen’s capacity, he further disclosed that 40 housing units have been allocated to NPF to address accommodation problems at the police barracks.
He continued: “In addition to the 40 houses in Wulari community, the State goverment allocated 220 houses at the Mai Mala Buni Housing Estate, and 20 additional houses at the Kashim Shettima Housing Estate along Airport-Damaturu road.
He, therefore, urged the Army and Police to deploy the patrol vehicles and motorcycles based on the need analysis of their operations in protecting people’s lives and property.
While receiving the patrol vehicles, Egbetokun stated that he was excited to be Maiduguri to receive the massive security architecture from the Borno state goverment led by Governor Zulum, who is passionate of equipping policemen to protect people’s lives and property against terrorists, bandits and kidnappers in the state.
He added that the presented vehicles will enhance the safety and of the Borno residents.
“The vehicles and motorcycles will help reduce response calls from the various communities, while police patrol the identified black-sports of forest and Lake Chad region.
Highlighting the security challenges in the state, he said: “The distribution of patrol vehicles, has strengthened the partnership between th Zulum administration and police in securing the communities affected in the 15-year Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorism.
He assured the governor that the distributed vehicles will be put to good use, in securing the 25 local council areas in the state.
