Terrorism: Defence Minister issues stern warning to governors over motorcycle palliatives

Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), has appealed to state governors and lawmakers to reconsider the distribution of motorcycles as palliatives, warning that some of the vehicles could eventually be diverted to terrorists and used to support their operations.

Musa made the call on Thursday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he discussed the Federal Government’s efforts to tackle terrorism and the security challenges facing the country.

Motorcycles giving terrorists operational advantage

According to the minister, motorcycles give terrorists an advantage because they can 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, governments should consider providing smaller-capacity models that would be less useful for rapid movement by 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 similarly cautioned lawmakers against distributing motorcycles through constituency projects and other intervention programmes.

He said some of the motorcycles distributed to beneficiaries could eventually find their way into the hands of bandits and terrorists.

“Those bikes… before you know it, it’s already back to the bandits, and that’s what they’re using. So we must stop that; we must be able to identify markets,” the minister said.

Illegal markets, motor parks identified

The Defence Minister also disclosed that security agencies had identified illegal markets and motor parks as routes allegedly 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.

Musa said tackling terrorism requires greater attention to the channels through which terrorists obtain mobility and logistics.

He urged state governments, lawmakers and other stakeholders to consider the possible security implications of intervention programmes before distributing items that could be repurposed by criminal groups.

The minister’s warning comes amid ongoing efforts by security agencies to disrupt terrorist networks, restrict their access to weapons and ammunition, and prevent them from exploiting legitimate economic and social activities to strengthen their operations.