The Niger Government said it spent more than N5 billion in the last two years on general security in the state.

Ahmed Matane, the Secretary to the State Government, said this while addressing journalists in Minna on Tuesday.

Mr Matane explained that the expenditure was to complement security agencies in the ongoing fight against banditry, kidnapping and other crimes.

He said the government also spent N605 million on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) following the security challenges and flooding in the state.

The SSG said the government bought more than 100 Hilux vehicles fitted with communication gadgets for the security agencies during the period.

“We have also refurbished 77 Hilux police patrol vehicles along with communication gadgets and five Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) for the ongoing fight against banditry and kidnapping.

“We have constantly been paying security personnel allowances deployed to fight criminal elements.

“We have devised new security strategies to fight banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling and other criminal elements in the state,” Mr Matane said.

(NAN)