By Chijioke Kingsley
Abuja (Sundiata Post) – The Special Assistance (SA), to the Governor of Plateau State, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang, has said in the bid to protect farmers from unwarranted attacks, which has contributed to food shortage in the State and the country at large, the Governor had equipped the Agro Rangers and other security outfits with security materials that will enhance their work.
Recall that the State under its peculiar security outfit “Operation Rainbow” in November last year, trained over 600 vigilantes with the help of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence (NSCDC), to boost the efficiency of the Agro Ranger set up by the Federal Government.
The federal government had said each State can now boast of trained Agro Rangers Special Forces to safeguard agricultural investments and mediate conflicts between farmers and herders.
However, to make their work more efficient, Governor Mutfwang’s Security Adviser, Brig-Gen. Gakji Shipi (rtd), told our correspondent at the weekend, that Motorcycles, Raincoats and Boots that were provided by the Governor, was to aid their access to un-motorable terrain for easy policing of farmers and their crops.
It would also be recalled that Mutfwang had last Thursday distributed 100 military-grade motorcycles to security agencies in the State.
30 of the motorcycles were allocated to the military, along with 130 raincoats and 130 rain boots. The Nigerian Police Force had received five motorcycles, 130 raincoats, and 130 rain boots, while the NSCDC received 30 motorcycles, 60 raincoats, and 60 rain boots. The DSS received five motorcycles, 20 raincoats, and 20 rain boots.
Also, Operation Rainbow received five motorcycles, 50 raincoats, and 50 rain boots, while The Nigeria Immigration Service received three motorcycles, 20 raincoats, and 20 rain boots. NDLEA received 10 raincoats and 10 rain boots. The Federal Road Safety Corps received 20 raincoats and 20 rain boots.
The Nigerian Correctional Service received 10 raincoats and 10 rain boots. VGN Mangu received nine motorcycles, 20 raincoats, and 20 rain boots. VGN Bokkos received nine motorcycles, 20 raincoats, and 20 rain boots. VGN Bassa received two motorcycles, 10 raincoats, and 10 rain boots in the given statistics order.
According to Gen. Shipi who also doubles as the Coordinator of Operation Rainbow, said the Governor ensured that all safety measures will be put in place to ensure that farmers are protected while working in their various farm lands.
He said one of the selling points in the State is its agricultural uniqueness, a sector the current administration has vowed to revamp, hence the measure currently put in place to ensure a bumper harvest this farming season and beyond.
