To tackle banditry and insecurity across Sokoto State, the state government has procured 10 new Hilux patrol vans and 150 motorcycles for security agencies operating in affected areas.
The fresh intervention, Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s administration said, is part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen security architecture and safeguard lives and property.
The distribution of the latest consignment took place in Sokoto on Friday, where 10 vehicles and 39 of the 150 motorcycles were officially handed over to representatives of the Police, Army, Air Force, and Department of State Services (DSS).
Presenting the keys, Secretary to the State Government, Muhammad Bello Sifawa, explained that the additional vehicles and motorcycles followed a request from security agencies for logistical support to enhance field operations.
“This administration has made security a top priority on Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s 9-point agenda,
“These 10 vehicles come in addition to the 170 patrol vans earlier procured and distributed since the beginning of this administration. We will continue to work hand in hand with security operatives to rid Sokoto of criminal elements” Sifawa said.
Sifawa urged the benefiting agencies to deploy the assets judiciously to maximise their impact. He also called on residents to complement government efforts through prayers and by providing actionable intelligence to aid security operations.
Responding on behalf of the security agencies, Sokoto State Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Musa, commended the governor for the swift response to their call for support.
“The vehicles and motorcycles will be strictly deployed for the purpose they were provided. Security agencies remain fully committed to securing every part of this state, but we need the cooperation of citizens, particularly through timely intelligence sharing to succeed,” Musa assured.
A breakdown of the allocation shows that both the Police and Army received four Hilux vans each, while the DSS and Air Force received one each. For the motorcycles, the Army got 20, the Police 15, and the Air Force received four.
The new assets, the state government noted, are targeted at improving rapid response capabilities, deepening patrol coverage in remote areas, and sustaining pressure on bandit networks disrupting rural communities.
Since assuming office, Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s administration has consistently supported security agencies, providing logistics, operational vehicles, and motorcycles, while engaging local stakeholders to build safer communities across the state.
Sokoto has remained one of the frontline states in the North-West grappling with banditry, cattle rustling, and kidnappings, particularly in hard-to-reach rural areas where security presence is often thin.
In July 2025, The PUNCH reported that suspected members of the Lakurawa group killed at least 15 people in Kwallajiya village, Tangaza LGA, highlighting the continued strain on local communities and the need for stronger logistical support for security operatives.
Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s administration has repeatedly emphasised security as a cornerstone of its 9-point agenda, with recent interventions including the distribution of 140 patrol vehicles to security agencies and the establishment of the Sokoto State Community Guard Corps, which was equipped with Hilux vans and hundreds of motorcycles to support formal security structures.
By combining patrol vans for wider coverage and motorcycles for rapid penetration into remote villages, the state government hopes to sustain pressure on criminal gangs while restoring confidence among residents.
