The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), has said that any security officer who fails to neutralise criminals under the excuse of waiting for orders would be treated as collaborating with them.
The report has it that Musa made the remark on Wednesday in Sokoto State while commissioning 62 operational vehicles and security equipment worth ₦27.127 billion, procured by the Sokoto State Government to boost security operations across the state.
Musa told the security personnel not to be afraid to confront the bandits and terrorists with guns.
Musa, while praising Governor Ahmed Aliyu for consistently providing security agencies with logistics and operational equipment, described the intervention as a display of strategic leadership.
He said: “Once you are deployed, don’t wait for any order from anybody to shoot any bandit or any terrorist.
“Whoever does not shoot or kill any bandit or terrorist in the name of waiting for an order, we will treat you like a bandit.
“It’s not only the unveiling of security assets in this event. The Governor said that it was a demonstration of strategic leadership, responsible governance and our collective resolve to strengthen the security architecture of Sokoto State and Nigeria as a whole.”
The Minister also said the newly commissioned armored vehicles and tactical equipment would enhance operational mobility, intelligence gathering and force protection in the fight against banditry, terrorism and kidnapping.
He also warned security personnel against neglecting the newly acquired assets, Musa added.
Musa urged the security personnel to be professional but to also remember to protect innocent citizens even as they take the fight to the criminals.
“This equipment cost billions of naira,” he added. We don’t want to give them over and then you toss them out or mistreat them. They must be used for the purpose for which they were bought.
“You are not to go there and extort or molest the people. “You’re there to protect them and work with them to get rid of bandits and terrorists in your area.”