Governor Dikko Umaru Radda of Katsina State has appealed for extra collaboration with security agencies to secure the lives and property of the citizens in the State.
Governor Radda made the call on Tuesday when he paid a courtesy visit to the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in Abuja.
The Governor’s spokesperson Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed in a statement quoted his principal saying that the working relationship between the Katsina State Government and the Civil Defence has always been cordial.
He said: “You have been very supportive in addressing the problem of insecurity bedeviling our people.
“Katsina is one of the States that suffer from banditry and other forms of criminalities. That is why I am here to solicit for more cooperation between our State Government and your Corps. Let’s see how we can work together to engender peace in Katsina”.
The statement reported Governor Radda revealing that the Katsina Government has engaged 1,500 locals to serve as Community Security Officers, to assist the conventional security agencies in the State.
“I believe with the engagement of the locals in the form of civilian JTF, combined with the conventional securities, we will go a long way in combating Katsina’s insecurity and reduce it to the bearable minimum,” the statement noted.
Responding, the Commandant General of NSCDC, Dr. Abubakar Ahmed Audi, acknowledged the security challenges bedeviling the country, reiterating the commitment of their Corps and other security agencies to tackling crime and criminality in Katsina State.
Dr. Ahmed Audi said both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches will be deployed to stem the tides of insecurity not just in Katsina, but the entire country.
He thereafter commended Governor Radda for the proactive steps taken by his administration to secure lives and property in Katsina.
“Let me assure you of the NSCDC’s readiness to enhance and strengthen its collaboration with the Katsina State Government,” the CG said.