Niger State Governor Umar Bago has announced plans to recruit 1,000 youths from each of the state’s 25 local government areas as volunteer security officers across the state.
The governor made the announcement following a stakeholders’ meeting at the palace of the Sultan of Kontagora, which brought together politicians, market leaders, traditional and religious figures to discuss solutions to insecurity in the area.
“Today I held a meeting with key stakeholders of Zone C to address the security challenges in the area,” Bago said, confirming that the meeting was convened to tackle rising insecurity.
He explained the scale of the recruitment plan. “I have ordered that, starting from today, 1,000 youths each across the 25 local government areas of the state be recruited as volunteer security officers in each of the eight local governments in Zone C.”
The governor outlined how the recruits would be prepared, saying, “I will ensure they receive proper training with the military, and are provided with modern equipment.
“When this is done, we will not wait for the criminals to attack the residents; the youths will locate them and eliminate them.”
He further described the type of skills the youths would gain.
He said, “The 1,000 youth, each from the 25 LGAs, will be trained by soldiers and given soldiers some kind of skills to defend their communities.”
Bago also expressed sympathy for residents affected by recent insecurity and described the collaborative approach of the stakeholders’ meeting.
“First of all, we sympathise with the people of zone C in the recent insecurity situation. Both the politicians, market men and women, and traditional rulers have come together to brainstorm to provide lasting solutions to the insecurity issue.
“Both the religious and traditional rulers were not left out. The Fulanis, Hausas, Kambari, and other tribes in the community, and God-willing, we have come to the end of the situation.”
He identified the groups responsible for the attacks in the area.
“The attackers are Lakurawas, terrorists, and Boko Haram coming from Zamfara, Kaduna, and Katsina states’ forests.”
