Former President Muhammadu Buhari and several governors from the North Western States graced the graduation and passing out parade of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps on Tuesday.

The ceremony was held to celebrate the training of 1,466 men, women and elderly drawn from various local government areas across the state to augment the efforts of security agents in fighting banditry and other forms of criminality.

The community watch corps was specifically trained in weapons handling, counter-terrorism, first-aid, and other security-related activities to assist security agents in mitigating security challenges at the grassroots level. The community watch corps members are known to understand the terrain better than the security agents, and this knowledge will be very useful in combating security challenges.

Notable personalities in attendance at the ceremony included the emirs of Katsina and Daura, some ministers, members of the National Assembly, and representatives of governors and governors from Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Yobe, and Zamfara states.

Sen. Hadi Sirika

In another development, former Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, has been appointed as a member of the Katsina State Security Intervention Trust Fund Committee. The committee has the mandate to mobilize funds to support efforts in addressing the security challenges in the state. Other members of the committee include prominent businessman, Alhaji Dahiru Mangal, Sen. Abu Ibrahim, and Sen. Ibrahim Idah.

Gov Dikko U Radda

The governor, His Excellency Dr Dikko Umar, inaugurated the committee in Katsina and said it would be chaired by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Abdullahi Faskari. The committee also has commissioners of Finance, Information, Security and Home Affairs, the state Head of Service, and Special Adviser, Victims of Banditry and Internally Displaced Persons, as members.

The Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Office, will serve as Secretary. The committee is mandated to identify prominent indigenes and corporate organizations that can provide funding support. They will also suggest areas for the deployment of the fund and recommend trustees for the security trust fund. Radda tasked the committee to co-opt any person who would assist in the discharge of the assignment.

Commenting on the Corps, a former Leader of Nigerians in Diaspora and Mentoring Commandant AS, congratulates the governor for the foresight and vision to make the state more secured for internal and external investments as well as the safety of her people.