Terrorism: ‘Halt motorcycle palliatives’ — Defence Minister tells governors

The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), has urged state governors and lawmakers to stop distributing motorcycles as palliatives, warning that some of the vehicles could end up in the hands of terrorists and be used to facilitate their operations.

Musa made the call on Thursday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, while discussing the Federal Government’s efforts to tackle terrorism and the challenges facing security agencies.

According to the minister, motorcycles give terrorists an advantage by allowing them to navigate difficult terrain, move quickly and evade 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,” Musa said.

He advised that where motorcycles must be distributed, governors should consider smaller-capacity models that would be less useful to 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 also cautioned lawmakers against distributing motorcycles through constituency projects and other intervention programmes, saying the vehicles could eventually find their way to bandits and terrorists.

The minister further disclosed that security agencies had identified illegal markets and motor parks allegedly being 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.