By Yahaya Adamu, Minna
Women in Niger State have commended the government for the total ban As the total ban on commercial motorcycles operators in Minna, the Niger state capital. The ban took effect on Thursday.
But the the Niger State Police Command is dismayed over the non-compliance of the order which took effect from 3rd June, 2021.
A women’s group, Niger Association of Progressive Women (NAPW) said the decision is long over due in view of the deteriorating security situation across the stat, alleging that 80 percent of crime in Minna, the state capital is perpetuated by criminals using commercial motorcycles.
Reacting to the abduction of the 136 Salihu Tanko Islamic school Children in Tegina, Niger state, the Chairperson of NAPW , Hajiya Hanatu Barde said the bold move by the government to check the activities of criminals who take advantage of the commercial motorcycle operators to perpetuate crime in the state is a welcome development.
“We are aware that the group of gunmen that attacked the Islamic school at Tegina on Sunday, and took away the students rode on motorcycles. The government move is therefore, to ensure that the state capital is safe,” she said.
The women group urged the people to work with government to rid the state of criminals.
The Police Command in a statement the Public Relation Officer, ASP Wasiu Abiodun warned motorcyclists and the Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Riders and Owners Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN) to voluntarily comply with the state government order.
According to the Police Public Relation Officer, “It is the expectation of the State Police Command that members of the public should be responsible law abiding as the measure is for safety and security of Minna metropolis in particular and Niger State in general”.
The Police Command therefore expressed the preparedness of security agencies in the State to enforce the ban as announced by the government, adding that “the Police and other security agencies shall commence aggressive enforcement of this order to ensure full compliance and anyone found violating the order shall have his motorcycle confiscated”.
He also pointed out that “while other private motorcycles are allowed to move between the hours of 06:00am to 09:00pm, Members of the public are admonished to cooperate with security agencies in the interest of general security of the State”.
Recall that the Niger State Government confirmed the number of students abducted by bandits at the Salihu Tanko Islamic School, Tegina, Rafi local government to be 136.
The state deputy governor, Alh. Ahmed Mohammed Ketso confirmed the number while giving an update on the situation, at the Government House, Minna.
He gave assurance to the parents of the abducted children that the government was doing its best for the safe return of the students and reiterated the readiness of the government to give continued support to the security agencies.
The deputy governor disclosed that the state government has so far provided support to the security agencies including distribution of various operational vehicles.
“We have so far given 89 operational vehicles, 283 operational motorcycles, 30 bicycles, 4 Tri-cycles in addition to funding the various security operations in the state that include: Karamin Goro, Sharan Daji, Girgizan Daji, Gama Aiki, Ayem Akpatuma I & II, Puff Adder I & II”, he said.
He added that 70 Nissan Vehicles and 2,300 motorcycles mobility support have been provided to the vigilante corps in the state.
He said that the security agencies were doing their best but don’t have enough logistics, saying intervention from the Federal Government was needed to equip them so that they confront the bandits.
The deputy governor said that the security agencies were being careful in the pursuit of bandits to avoid collateral damage.
The Deputy Governor also directed all the Emirs, District Heads and village heads to liaise with local government Chairmen so as to profile all new residents in their domains and to be security sensitive.
