Sokoto building military base to combat banditry

The Sokoto State Government, has stated that it is currently constructing a military base in Illela town to support military operations in the fight against banditry and other forms of criminality in the state.

The Economic Adviser to the state governor, Dr.Bashir Achida, said this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday.

He said the move was part of the efforts of the government and people of Sokoto state towards addressing the security challenge in the northwest and country at large.

According to him, the government, when done with the construction of the base, would hand it over to the federal government in line with constitutional provision which placed the military under the exclusive list.

He said the renewed support became necessary, given the need to secure the life and properties of citizens and the strategic position of the state in agriculture and the nation’s economic development.

According to Adicha, with a secured environment, Sokoto state would contribute more to the nation’s efforts to fight poverty and food shortage.

He said the strategic location of the state as a major agrarian area and having an international boundary made it vulnerable to the activities of bandits and other anti-social elements.

He said the government had provided 140 operational vehicles to support the security agencies in the state to fight criminality, banditry in the communities and the farm lands.

Achida said the state government was also constructing major roads to make the rural communities accessible to the military as part of its contributions to the fight against banditry and terrorism.

He said the community guards that were earlier set up by the state government had been provided with 700 motorcycles and 40 Hilus vehicles.

This, he said, was to complement efforts of the military and other security agencies in combating banditry and other criminal activities in the state.

(NAN)

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