By Muhammad Ibrahim, Sokoto
The Sokoto State Government has provided 20 Hilux vans and 710 motorcycles to the newly established Community Guard Corps to bolster security efforts across the state.
Abubakar Bawa, the Special Adviser on Media to the Governor, stated that the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Col. Abdul Usman, officially handed over the vehicles and motorcycles to the commanders of the 13 local government areas most affected by banditry at the state headquarters of the corps.
Representing Col. Usman at the event, Sayudi Almustapha, the Director of Internal Security, Department of Security Matters, Sokoto State, emphasized that the vehicles are intended to enhance the corps’ ability to penetrate deep into local communities and protect them from banditry and other security threats.
He urged the corps personnel to ensure the vehicles and motorcycles are used strictly for official purposes and not for personal use. “These vehicles and motorcycles are not for personal use but are meant solely for official duties. The government has invested significant resources in acquiring these assets, so it is crucial to ensure their proper utilization and routine maintenance,” Almustapha emphasized.
He also reaffirmed the current administration’s commitment to securing the state and reminded the Community Guard Corps that their role is to complement the efforts of conventional security forces in safeguarding rural areas.
Col. Usman also appealed to the rural communities in the 13 most affected local government areas to support the corps in performing their duties diligently.
Sokoto State Commissioner for Local Governments and Chieftaincy Matters, Ibrahim Dadi Adare, also addressed the gathering. Represented by the Director of Local Government Matters, Bello Musa, the Commissioner announced that special funds have been allocated for the proper maintenance of the vehicles. He assured that the local governments would fully support the corps in their mission.
Retired Col. Musa Na Allah Idris, the State Commander of the Corps, expressed gratitude to the state government and assured that the vehicles would be properly maintained. He also expressed confidence that, with the training provided to the corps personnel, they would effectively contribute to eradicating banditry in the state. Idris appealed for continued support from the public in this regard.
The establishment of the Sokoto State Community Guard Corps aligns with a resolution by the North-West Governors’ Forum to create state-level Community Watch Corps to combat banditry. Sokoto follows the lead of Katsina and Zamfara States in implementing this initiative.
Analysts believe that this development could significantly reduce the frequency of bandit attacks in the North-West region.
