Army bans use of bikes by personnel in Borno

Nigerian Army, under its Operation Hadin Kai has banned the use of motorcycle by soldiers within Borno State.

The government of Borno in 2011 banned the use of the motorcycle in the state as a result of increase attacks and serial assassinations by Boko Haram terrorists, which they usually carry out using motorcycles.

The terrorist group use bikes due to advantage of its size and ability to snake through narrow road paths which are not pliable to vehicles, to carry out clandestine operations and disappear from the scene without trace.

The government of the state, then led by Kashim Shettima, now senator, slammed a ban on the use of motorcycles across metropolitan part of the state.

However, troops use it in their operations, patrols and other offensives across volatile territories, but the resurgence of bikes within Maiduguri, the state’s capital has raised concern among the population. Military and other security men are seen within Maiduguri and other parts of the metropole on bikes, which meant for operations outside the city.

On that regards, the Nigerian Army is now banning it for its personnel too.

Col. A. O. Onasanya, who in a statement signed for the general officer commanding on Friday, disclosed the extension of the banning on soldiers and other security outfits. He said it is part of a resolution reached in the state’s security meeting held with Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, governor of the state.

The ban followed an allegedly nascent security threat rearing its ugly head in the state, with a few Point on Sale (POS) centers, which now functions as transaction points, being robbed in the state capital.

According to Col. Onasanya, it was the governor, sequel to the growing insecurity within the metropolis, that stated the need to stop the use of bikes for soldiers too.

He noted that the Nigerian Army is therefore directing commanders within Maiduguri of the subsistence of the ban on motorcycle and the need for thorough implementation.

He added that appropriate formations were directed to expand the scope of any operations to checkmate and include the enforcement of the ban within the state.