…donates 10 operational motorcycles to vigilance group operatives
SEGUN BABATUNDE, Bauchi
Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, has again warned traditional rulers and community leaders in the state against indiscriminate land allocation, which had in the past caused herders/farmers’ clashes, leading to loss of lives and valuable property.
The governor gave the warning, on Wednesday, while granting audience to ward heads, community and religious leaders from Alkaleri Local Government Area of the state during a two-day community engagement in his hometown.
While stating that the traditional, religious and community leaders had been contributing to sustaining peace in the state, the governor said they should not destroy their own efforts by using their positions to cause farmers/ herders’ conflict through sale or illegal allocation of land in their respective areas.
He further advised them not to engage in any act capable of disrupting the peace of the area, especially issues of land allocation.
In another development, the governor donated 10 operational motorcycles to volunteer security operatives in Duguri District of Alkaleri LGA.
Presenting the motorcyles at the palace of the district head of Duguri, the governor explained that the donation was meant to appreciate the volunteer operatives for their sacrifices towards securing lives and properties of the local communities in the area.
He directed them to renew their commitment towards protecting the state against all forms of insecurity, saying that since Duguri shared borders with Plateau, Gombe and Taraba states, there was the need to intensify patrol along its borderline with a view to addressing potential security threats.
While acknowledging their sacrifices towards assisting security agencies to tackle crime and criminality, the governor, however, cautioned them to discharge their responsibilities according to the law.
He advised them to always collaborate with Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) and other conventional security personnel in the area to avoid breach of law and order.
According to him, the state government is working in active synergy with security agencies working in the state with a view to ridding the state of criminal activities.
The governor then pledged to personally assist them with monthly stipends to enhance their operations.
“I want to assure our vigilante group in Duguri district that apart from these motorcycles, I will be giving you monthly financial support to enable you to perform optimally,” he pledged.
While saying that the primary responsibility of government is enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mohammed assured that his administration would continue to give priority attention to security issues in the state.
Responding, the District Head of Duguri, Ibrahim YM Baba, applauded the governor for the gesture, urging the vigilante group to utilise the motorcycles judiciously for improved security not only in Duguri, but also across the state.