Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe has donated 47 operational vehicles and 50 motorcycles to security agencies in the state.

Mr Buni, who presented the vehicles on Tuesday in Damaturu, said the gesture would support the agencies in executing their mandates effectively.

“To achieve this noble objective, it has become necessary to provide adequate support to security agencies, especially in terms of logistics, to ease their movements on routine patrols or when responding to distress calls from citizens of the state,” Mr Buni said.

He recounted that his administration had, some years ago, donated 30 Toyota Hilux vehicles and constituted a rapid response squad, tagged “Operation Haba Maza Squad.”

“Similarly, our efforts in supporting the security agencies since assumption of office have been wide-ranging and inclusive through close collaborations to enhance synergy for a better working relationship to enhance successful operations to reduce crime across the state,” he said.

Mr Buni said 21 of the four-wheel-drive JMC vehicles have been allocated to divisional police officers (DPOs) across the state, one vehicle to each of the state police headquarters, the army, the State Security Service (SSS), the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), 17 local government councils, and others.

The governor said 23 of the motorcycles were allocated to SSS, 10 each to the army and airport security team, and seven others to the vigilantes.

Mr Buni directed local government council chairmen to provide funds for fuelling and ensure the maintenance of the operational vehicles deployed to their respective areas.

Brig.-Gen. Dahiru Abdulsalam (rtd), Mr Buni’s Special Adviser on Security Matters, said the donation followed a recent request by the Yobe State Security Stakeholders’ Forum.

He said the governor granted other requests, including the provision of a monthly stipend to heads of security agencies and the expansion of “Operation Haba Maza” to incorporate sister agencies, with police as the lead agency.

(NAN)