By Hassan Zaggi
The Benue State Government has restricted the operations of commercial motorcycles popularly known as Okada from 6am to 8pm.
The Benue State government took the decision after a Security Council meeting, yesterday.
The government, however, frowned at the reintroduction of the controversial Water Resources Bill in the National Assembly, maintaining that Benue State has never supported it and will continue to reject it.
At a media briefing after the security council meeting, the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, said: “We rejected tbe Bill before. We still reject it, which is another way of bringing in RUGA, Cattle Colony and Open Grazing. Benue State is not party to that and we, therefore, demand apology from those linking us to that bill.”
The governor, however, insisted that the earlier outright ban on the use of motorcycles in the Sankera geopolitical zone comprising Katsina-Ala, Logo and Ukum still subsists.
According to him, the decision followed the recent security alarm raised by the Nasarawa State government and what is happening in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and other parts of the country.
The Governor reiterated that the decision to restrict the activities of commercial motorcycles was aimed at nipping in the bud the resurgence of criminal elements suspected to be moving into the state.
The Governor disclosed that security agencies in the state have been mandated to enforce the new regulations, saying stiff penalties such as arrest and prosecution awaits anyone found flouting the order.
The security council also resolved that all heavy-duty vehicles coming into the state, with covered tarpaulins would be searched at designated checkpoints along routes in and out of the state with the contents thoroughly checked before being allowed to pass.
He also disclosed that the 500 personnel of the Benue State Community Volunteer Guards will be deployed to complement conventional security agencies in the state, explaining that they have been trained and kitted with an additional five hundred expected to begin training next week.
The Governor who said the Community Volunteer Guards would work with the traditional rulers and other security agencies in fighting crime expressed optimism that being members of the communities, it would be easier for them to fish out criminals.
Governor Ortom noted that the Security Council also approved a committee headed by the Secretary to State Government (SSG), Professor Tony Ijohor, to work towards regulating the activities of miners, which he said have been causing environmental hazards.
Other members of the committee include the Commissioner for Lands and Solid Minerals, Hon. Bernard Unenge, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Micheal Gusah and Adviser on Mining, Andrew Kputu as well as the chairmen and second class chiefs of Gboko, Kwande, Ogbadibo and Logo as members.
