•As Zamfara inaugurates protection guard

By Ibrahim HassanWuyo

Gusau—Governors from the North-West have pledged to work together and adopt a common approach in tackling security challenges bedevilling the region, ruling out negotiations with terrorists.

Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State and Chairman of the North-West Governors Forum, stated this, yesterday, during the inauguration of the Zamfara State Community Protection Guard, CPG, in Gusau.

He said banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling and other criminal activities had engulfed the region in the last 10 years, noting that effective synergy and the adoption of a common approach by the states would go a long way towards addressing insecurity and fostering relative peace in the region.

He said, “We have agreed to commit ourselves to fighting banditry and other crimes and say no to negotiations with any criminal, but those who surrendered and embraced peace would be integrated into the community.”
On his part, Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara said they would work collectively to address insecurity and socio-economic problems in the region.

Governor Lawal’s colleagues from the Northwest states rallied around him during the unveiling of the CPG (Askarawan Zamfara) at the Trade Fair Complex, Gusau.

A statement by the Governor’s Spokesperson, Sulaiman Idris, stated that “Last year, Governor Dauda Lawal approved the engagement of 5,200 guards across 14 local government areas. Today, 2,645 community protection guards graduated in the first batch.”

According to the governor, “While we make these efforts, the lofty goals we set out to achieve will remain a mirage as long as the formidable challenge of insecurity remains unaddressed.

“This informed our decision to, among other things; establish the Community Protection Guards, known as Askarawa. The Steering Committee for establishing the Community Protection Guards traversed the 14 Local Government Areas and screened eligible volunteers for enrolment into the outfit.

“We believe that the bulk of the challenges we face as a state and region are borne out of severe neglect in advancing public policy to serve the socioeconomic expectations of our people. We will never take for granted the message of the people of our state through their votes in March 2023.

“Today, therefore, the first batch of the Community Protection Guards, 2,645, is graduating. These young, energetic and vibrant personnel have undergone rigorous training, extensive drilling, and an understanding of the rules of engagement, amongst other skills, in the due discharge of their responsibility of partnering, assisting and working with the security agencies to defend our communities.”