The Governor of Katsina State, Dikko Radda, has inaugurated 10 armoured vehicles to fight bandits and other criminals in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the governor inaugurated the armoured vehicles on Monday in Katsina.

Radda said the vehicles would be deployed by the state joint security teams to effectively fight bandits and other criminals, especially in the eight local government areas suffering from banditry.

The local governments are Safana, Batsari, Danmusa, Kankara, Faskari, Sabuwa, Dandume and Jibia.

“The government is determined to eliminate banditry and criminality in the state,” Radda said, adding that a lot had been achieved since the beginning of the joint security operation.

Radda commended the security operatives for their efforts, assuring them that the government would continue to provide them with the necessary support to restore peace to all parts of the state.

The governor urged citizens to support the security operatives with timely and credible information about criminals in their localities.

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Security and Home Affairs, Dr Nasiru Muazu-Danmusa, said the provision of the armoured vehicles demonstrated the government’s commitment to the protection of the people.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Saad, appreciated the government for providing the vehicles and pledged that they would be properly deployed to decimate bandits and other criminals.

The governor had, in October last year, launched a 1,466-man  community watch corps to tackle insecurity in the seven local government areas hardest hit by banditry.

Radda equipped them with  70 patrol vehicles and 700 motorcycles, adding that the corps would work along with conventional security operatives to confront and eliminate bandits.

“During my campaigns, I  visited the 351 wards in the state and I saw the evil effects of banditry. Despite current efforts, 22 local government areas in the state have security challenges. That is why security has remained our top priority.

“What we are doing is not only to address the symptoms but we are also tackling the roots of insecurity. Bandits are deadly enemies who have no value for human lives. We shall not relent in our efforts to tackle banditry. I will also admonish other states in our region with similar security challenges to embrace our efforts. I also wish to call on the Federal Government to support collaborative efforts by states with security challenges to tackle the problem,” Radda said.

Culled from PUNCH