Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has thrown his weight behind the push for the creation of State Police, saying it is a key solution to Nigeria’s security problems.
The governor spoke on Tuesday at the graduation ceremony of 2,000 members of the Kano State Neighbourhood Watch Corps held at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano.
Yusuf said peace and stability can only be achieved when strong security measures are combined with job creation and economic opportunities.
He warned that unemployed and idle youths are more likely to be drawn into crime.
According to him, state police will help existing security agencies and make it easier to tackle insecurity across the country.
“With the graduation of over 2,000 young men and women today, we have taken them off the streets and placed them on the front lines of civil service,” the governor said.
“They are not only securing their communities but building careers, earning livelihoods and serving as role models for future generations.”
Yusuf explained that decentralising policing will allow states to respond better to security threats because they understand their local environment, culture and challenges.
“The issue of insecurity requires collective and innovative approaches,” he said, adding that state police, if properly organised and regulated, will boost security at the grassroots and support federal agencies to keep law and order.
The Kano State Neighbourhood Watch Corps has 2,000 operatives who will be deployed across the state’s 44 local government areas.
Out of the total number, 1,870 are men while 130 are women.
The governor said the operatives have completed their training and are ready to handle major security challenges in the state.
He also disclosed that the corps will be provided with 88 Hilux patrol vehicles and 440 motorcycles to ensure quick response and effective movement.
Yusuf described the launch of the corps as a major step toward strengthening community-based security and improving safety in both urban and rural areas of Kano.
He said the outfit will work closely with conventional security agencies to maintain peace and order, noting that recent security developments in the state show the need for alertness, intelligence gathering and fast response.
While praising existing security agencies for their efforts, the governor stressed the importance of involving community-based groups that understand the local terrain.
He urged members of the corps to carry out their duties with discipline, professionalism and respect for human rights, while working in harmony with other security agencies.
Yusuf also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to continued investment in security, stressing that peace and stability are essential for economic growth and social development in Kano State.
