Sokoto state government says 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.

Bashir Achida, economic adviser to the state governor, said this in an interview with journalists in Abuja on Friday.

He said the move was part of the efforts of the government and the people of Sokoto state to address the security challenge in the northwest and the 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 provisions which placed the military under the exclusive list.

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

According to Mr Adicha, with secure 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 in fighting criminality and banditry in the communities and the farmlands.

Mr 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 the efforts of the military and other security agencies in combating banditry and other criminal activities in the state.

(NAN)