The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has presented 50 operational vehicles fitted with communication gadgets to security agencies to strengthen the fight against insecurity in the territory.

Mr Wike, while handing over the vehicles to the agencies in Abuja on Friday, said the measure was to support security agencies with the needed logistics to enable them to combat crime in the FCT.

The FCT Police Command got 24 vehicles, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps got eight, the Advance Party/Security Monitoring and FCT Administration got six, and the State Security Service got five.

Also, the Guard Brigade of the Nigerian Army received three vehicles, while the Nigeria Air Force, 005, Abuja, Naval Unit, Nigerian Immigration Service, and National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency received one each.

“We are not just concentrating on infrastructure; we are not only concentrating on bringing development to the hinterland; we are also concentrating on providing security in order to protect lives and property,” the minister said.

He pointed out that one of President Bola Tinubu’s key priorities was the security of lives and property.

According to him, any leader who cannot secure the lives and properties of citizens has no business in governance.

“For us as a government, it is not the responsibility of Mr President to go and identify where the criminals are; it is not my responsibility or the minister of state’s responsibility to go and engage criminals.

“It is our responsibility to provide the tools for the security agencies to confront these criminals and make sure we sleep with our two eyes closed,” the minister said.

He urged residents to support and pray for security agencies, who sometimes lose their lives in the line of duty.

The minister commended the security agencies for reducing the crime rate in FCT and promised continued support by providing the tools needed to work in the interest of residents.

Earlier, the security services department director, Adamu Gwary, noted the rising concern about the security situation in and around the FCT.

He said the operational vehicles would empower and enhance the capacity of security agencies to fight crimes and criminality, respond promptly to distress situations, and rise to the security challenges confronting the territory.

Speaking on behalf of the security agencies, the Commissioner of Police, Benneth Igweh, FCT Command, thanked Mr Wike for his continued support of the security agencies in FCT.

(NAN)