The Arewa New Frontiers, a northern advocacy group, has voiced its support for the Katsina Community Watch Corps, crediting it with significant success in reducing banditry in the state, notably through the neutralization of notorious terrorist leader Sani Waka Burki and his associates.
At a news conference on Sunday in Abuja, General Secretary Mohammed Ibn Abdulsalam commended the Zamfara and Kaduna state governments for following the lead of Katsina Governor Dikko Umaru Radda in establishing similar community policing initiatives. He called on other states in the North West to implement such measures to combat banditry throughout the region.
Abdulsalam highlighted the effectiveness of the Katsina Community Watch Corps, which has deployed 1,466 trained personnel and is in the process of training an additional 500 members for the most affected local government areas. He stated, “The Corps has become a model for other states,” citing its role in neutralizing bandits and intercepting vehicles carrying ammunition in the region.
The group praised Governor Radda’s commitment to security, noting substantial investments in security infrastructure, including the acquisition of 10 armored personnel carriers, 61 branded Hilux vehicles, and 700 motorcycles, along with advanced surveillance equipment worth over N10 billion. Abdulsalam emphasized that this commitment is not merely rhetorical but is backed by tangible resources dedicated to protecting citizens.
He also mentioned the establishment of the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, which has created a dedicated institution to coordinate security efforts across the state’s 34 local government areas, improving response times and collaboration among various security agencies.
The multifaceted approach taken by Governor Radda includes the establishment of the Hisbah Board and the Committee on Encroached Cattle Routes and Grazing Reserves, demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of the complex security challenges facing the region. Abdulsalam asserted that the governor is not only addressing immediate threats but is also strategically tackling the root causes of conflict.