Katsina State Government says an estimated 2400 youths will be recruited into its Community Watch Corps in a move to combat security problems in eight worst affected local government areas of the state.
The State Deputy Governor, Farouk Lawal Jobe, who disclosed this in Katsina while flagging off the distribution of enlistment forms to the chairmen of the council areas, said about 303 youths would be engaged in each of the front line local government areas to complement the services of security operatives.
Mallam Jobe assured that the young persons below the age of 35 years would be given the needed training and equipment as part of the renewed vigour in the fight against insecurity in the affected areas and the state.
The Deputy Governor, who stressed Governor Dikko Radda’s vow to protect lives and property in the state, revealed that the plan to recruit, train and integrate the youths into local security architecture was one of the key campaign promises of the current government.
He said: “It is public knowledge that the Governor of Katsina state, Malam Dikko Radda, has vowed to eliminate the security problems, especially in the local governments where it has affected many people and even the entire Katsina state.” He charged the leaders of local government areas and others stakeholders to ensure only trusted and committed youths would be engaged to achieve the desired objectives of the programme.
In his remarks, the Secretary to the Government of the State (SGS), Arch. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, expressed optimism that the programme would significantly improve security in the areas, adding that the launch of the distribution of the forms marked the commencement of the recruitment process.
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