December 30, (THEWILL) – The Chairman of Sokoto State Community Guard Corps, Hon. Yusha’u Muhammad Kebbe, has said the newly established Community Guard Corps will help a great deal in the fight against insecurity and tackling other forms of criminalities and social vices in Sokoto State.
Kebbe gave the assurance while briefing Journalists shortly after the signing into law of the act establishing a Community Guard Corps by the State Government.
He described the initiative as a step forward in bringing an end to wanton killings, abductions, rustling and other forms of criminalities bedevilling the state.
Kebbe said the Governor has since made fighting insecurity one of the 9 points agenda of his administration, with all sustainability and sincerity of purpose.
According to Kebbe, the establishment of the community-based security operation was received with lots of accolades from rural and urban communities.
“People of the State appreciate and believe that the guard corps, with their vast and adequate knowledge and experience of the trainees in the rural Communities, will complement the efforts of the conventional security agencies.
“We are in collaboration with the Army, Police, Department of the State Security (DSS), and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC) in bringing to an end the banditry, kidnapping and other forms of criminal activities in Sokoto State.
Kebbe revealed that no fewer than 2,000 able-bodied persons have been recruited to serve in the Guard Corps and would soon commence a two-month training exercise on weapon handling, public relations, psychological warfare, intelligence gathering, and how to prevent accidental discharge among other tactical approaches.
According to him, all light weapons to be handled by the Guards will be under the custody of the police at the level of Divisional Police offices across the 23 local Government areas of the state.
They must take instructions from the Army and other security operatives attached to work with.
“All those recruited are currently undergoing training after passing through rigorous certifications from traditional rulers, community leaders, religious leaders and security operatives at local and state levels.
“We want to ensure that stakeholders in various communities are involved in ensuring that those enlisted are not people of questionable character,” the Chairman explained.
About the Author
Tunde Omolehin is an award-winning Journalist with prose in investigative and storytelling that is connecting the dots between the under-reported communities and policymakers to ensure good governance and accountability.
