The Benue State Government has taken delivery of 78 impounded motorcycles from the two local government areas of Ukum and Katsina-Ala courtesy of troops of Operation Whirl Stroke led by Major-General Adeyemi Yekini.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Paul Hemba who made this known in Makurdi, the state capital said the motorcycles were impounded from violators of the ban on operations of motorcycles in the affected areas.
He stated that arrests had also been made and that bandits and criminal elements operating in the area were being trailed to their hideouts by security agents, stressing that government is determined to restore peace in the area.
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Hemba noted that the ban was a decision of the State Security Council which is part of efforts by the Governor Ortom-led administration to curtail banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities in parts of the state.
According to him, bandits, kidnappers and armed robbers now use motorcycles to carry out their nefarious activities, pointing out that it becomes very difficult for security agents to trail and arrest them through bush paths.
Hemba stated that although there are isolated cases of burning of motorcycles, the ban is effective and had grossly affected the bandits, resorting to propaganda against Operation Whirl Stroke to make it look as if all impounded bikes have been burnt.
He said that traditional rulers from Sankera had already made a case to the Governor to consider exempting motorcycles used by mostly women in the area as the bandits use Bajaj to carry out their nefarious activities.
It will be recalled that in late December, the State Security Council banned the use of motorcycles as well as the mounting of illegal check points in the two affected local councils to contain the escalating violence in the area which has already claimed several lives.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
