The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has lamented the devastating impacts bandits and other criminal elements terrorising Nigeria have had on the country’s economy and social life under President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime. 

According to a statement issued on Thursday, Mr Aregbesola urged operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to be firm but civil in carrying out their responsibilities. 

The minister stated this at the inauguration of 93 operational vehicles for the NSCDC in Abuja. He said NSCDC’s presence at all times should show the power and authority of Mr Buhari’s regime to deter criminals.

“The ministry under my watch remains unwavering, resolute and committed towards strengthening the capacity and capabilities of this organ of government to effectively deliver on its mandate,” stated the minister. “Today’s occasion, therefore, is in pursuant of the radical and proactive steps by the federal government towards addressing the challenge of insecurity in the country.”

He added, “This is as we take steady and bold steps to degrade the activities of some criminally minded unpatriotic individuals and saboteurs, whose main agenda is to dwarf enormous achievements government has recorded in every sphere of national development. As we are all aware, there are challenges of vandalism of critical national assets, crude oil theft, banditry, kidnapping, ritual killings, insurgency, among others that have become a cankerworm that must be eliminated.”

He declared that the regime would not continue to watch innocent Nigerians constantly harassed, intimidated and cowed while criminals terminate their lives prematurely.

“The incessant attacks on our critical national assets and infrastructure, in particular, has become a grievous wound dangerously bleeding the nation’s economy, which must be effectively addressed,” Mr Aregbesola stressed. “We cannot also pretend to be unaware of the incessant vandalism and theft of our valuable national assets and infrastructure, and our territory turned to a theatre of bloodshed and anguish by bandits.”

He further claimed that Mr Buhari’s regime “have routed these gangs and individuals in all their bases and put them on the run” and added, “We shall not relent but remain absolutely committed towards extirpating them completely from our land.”

Mr Aregbesola advised the NSCDC to issue the vehicles to the best personnel that would conscientiously and effectively use and maintain them, decrying how most federal agencies mishandle and neglect official vehicles and ultimately turn them into disuse within a short period.

The minister assured the NSCDC personnel of the Buhari regime’s continued encouragement and support through adequate training and provision of modern operational equipment to strengthen the corps’ capacity further.

“You are, therefore, expected to reciprocate the federal government’s gesture by remaining steadfast and dedicated to the effective discharge of your core mandate,” he told the NSCDC operatives. “I enjoin you also to further improve on the robust collaboration and synergy with the military and other sister security agencies in providing security for the lives and property of Nigerians.”

Mr Aregbesola commended Mr Buhari for his support and kind disposition to the interior ministry and its agencies in discharging their statutory responsibilities.

(NAN)