Katsina State Governor Malam Dikko Umaru Radda has launched the Katsina State Community Watch Corps to complement efforts by security agencies in curbing armed banditry and kidnapping in the state.

At a graduation ceremony to commission the first batch of 1,456 trainees who will serve in the corps, Governor Radda mentioned that the trainees were drilled by the military, police, and DSS officers in the art of intelligence gathering and combat to enable them to face the bandits.

The government also handed over 68 Hilux vehicles and motorcycles for use by the members of the Community Watch Corps to facilitate their patrols into the nooks and crannies of their communities.

He explained that the community watch corps members were selected from each ward across the local government areas that have been grappling with armed banditry and other security challenges in the state.

The governor tasked them to be proactive and combat-ready and to closely liaise with the police, military, DSS, and civil defence operatives in surveillance, information sharing, and confrontation with bandits, kidnappers, informants, armed robbers, and other criminals.

He regretted that 24 out of the 34 local government areas of the state were dealing with one form of security challenge or another, which prompted the state government to come up with proactive measures to address the menace.

The occasion was graced by former President Muhammadu Buhari and six other governors from the Northwest geopolitical zone, as well as Governor Mai-mala Buni of Yobe State.

Meanwhile, after the event, the Northwest State governors held a closed-door security meeting at the Government House in Katsina. (Nigerian Tribune)