The Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke, (OPWS), Major General Adeyemi Yekini has handed over 78 seized motorcycles to Benue state government.
Security Adviser to the state government, Lt. Col. Paul Hemba (rtd) who received the bikes on behalf of state government said the 78 motorcycles are part of those arrested from Sankera after state security council banned their use in that axis.
The handover was coming barely one week after controversy trailed the burning of motorcycles seize from users in Katsina-Ala and Ukum by the army.
Hemba observed that in most parts of the country; Benue inclusive, motorcycles are major vehicle for crime and instability.
He said bandits, criminals, kidnappers and all sorts of criminals use them for their nefarious activities because they are easy to manipulate even where vehicles cannot go.
He noted that numerous crimes by bandits which culminated in the attack on the Chairman of Katsina Ala among others were carried out using motorcycles, a situation which informed the decision of the security council.
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According to him, some of the impounded motorcycles belong to bandits while some also belong to other people who flouted the order.
He said arrests are being made and the OPWS and other security agencies will continue to work together and will leave no stone unturned to arrest the culprits.
“Arrests are being made and it is a continuous process. Day and night, we are combing their hideouts and that is why we have some respite recently.
“A few isolated cases are being taken care of and no matter the blackmail, we will not stop pursuing them. The blackmail is intended to discourage the security agencies but we will not stop,” Hemba said.
