By AUGUSTINE OKEZIE, Katsina

The Katsina State Government has recruited 500 more persons as vigilance operatives to complement security engagements with other security agencies in rural communities.

The Secretary to the State Government, Mustapha Inuwa, said this was part of efforts to check banditry.

He spoke while receiving the interim report on the recruitment of vigilance groups, led by the Special Adviser on Security, Alhaji Ibrahim Katsina.

He said the measures were part of sustained efforts by the administration to restore peace and security.

‘Each state in the Northwest that is currently facing security challenges has been given the mandate to recruit credible vigilance members to boost their security architecture’’, Inuwa said.

Also speaking, a member of the Security Committee representing Katsina Emirate Council, Kauran Katsina and district head of Rimi, Alhaji Nuhu Abdulkadir, said the Committee had lived up to its mandates and had searched diligently for trustworthy and reliable people in the Communities, who had the needed qualities to be trained and work alongside security personnel for the restoration of peace in Katsina.

A member of the Security Committee representing Daura Emirate Council, and also a retired Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mayanan Daura, Lawal Al-Hassan said the Committee selected 13 vigilantes from each Local Government Area of the State, who were of proven courage and integrity, with the right disposition to get the job done.

The recruits, said to be familiar with the layout and hidden pathways that lead to the hideouts of bandits in the state, were expected to contribute to safeguarding communities bedevilled by banditry attacks.

Chairman of the Security Committee and also Special Adviser to Governor Aminu Masari on Security, Ibrahim Katsina said the process was part of the concept of Community Policing, where reliable and trustworthy people of proven integrity in communities, vouched by their traditional and community leaders were trained to augment security personnel efforts in curtailing insecurity.

Mr. Katsina said the previous 500 persons that were recruited raised the total number of vigilantes in the state to 1000. (The Nation)

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