Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), has appealed to state governors and lawmakers to reconsider the distribution of motorcycles as palliatives, warning that some of the vehicles could eventually be diverted to terrorists and used to support their operations.
Musa made the call on Thursday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he spoke about the Federal Government’s efforts to tackle terrorism and the challenges facing security agencies in the country.
According to the minister, motorcycles provide terrorists with an advantage because they can be used to navigate difficult terrain, move rapidly and escape security operatives.
“We try to appeal to even governors to stop giving motorcycles out as palliatives because these motorcycles are the same ones that still end up with these terrorists.
“Even if you have to give, don’t give them the big-capacity motorcycles; give them the small-capacity ones that they won’t be able to use to run around, because that gives them leverage. They can easily enter and then disappear,” he said.
Musa similarly cautioned lawmakers against distributing motorcycles through constituency projects and other intervention programmes, saying some of the vehicles could eventually reach bandits and terrorists.
“Those bikes… before you know it, it’s already back to the bandits, and that’s what they’re using. So we must stop that; we must be able to identify markets,” he said.
The minister also disclosed that security agencies had identified illegal markets and motor parks as routes allegedly used by terrorists to transport weapons and ammunition into areas where they operate.
“What we realise from experience is they establish illegal markets or illicit motor parks. They go to those motor parks; that’s where they move arms and ammunition into those areas,” he added.
Terrorism: Stop giving motorcycles as palliatives – Defence Minister tells governors