The Niger State government says it has spent over N2 billion to support security agencies in the ongoing fight against banditry, kidnapping and cattle rustling in the state, in the last two years.

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Ahmed Matane, disclosed this in an interview in Minna on Monday.

“We will continue to accord priority attention to the welfare of security personnel deployed to enable them to wipe out all those involved in the illegal acts for peace, progress and political stability to thrive,” he said.

Mr Matane said that the money was spent on the purchase of Hilux patrol vans, patrol motorcycles and payment of allowances to security personnel deployed to combat the security challenges in parts of the state. 

He said that the state government would continue to give the security agencies the support they required to enable them to perform optimally.

He said that already the state government alongside the security agencies had mapped out a comprehensive security network that would see to the arrest and prosecution of all those involved in crimes and criminalities in the state.

“We are appealing to residents of the state to volunteer reliable information on movements of bad characters to the nearest security outfits for necessary action.

“We have also reached out to traditional and religious leaders and other stakeholders and urged them to mobilise residents to support the efforts of the government in the ongoing fight against criminal elements,” the SSG said. 

Mr Matane assured that the state government in partnership with the security agencies, would continue to intensify efforts to end all the security challenges confronting the state.

NAN