Katsina recruits 550 to security corps 

The Katsina State Government has recruited, trained, and graduated 550 operatives under the second batch of its Security Watch Corps (SWC) programme to help combat terrorism and related criminality in the state.

This comes as suspected bandits killed two security personnel and injured five others in Jibia Local Government Area on Thursday night.

Speaking at the operatives’ graduation and passing-out ceremony on Saturday afternoon, Governor Dikko Radda said the operatives would complement conventional security agents in the fight against insecurity.

Radda stated that the first batch of SWC had 1,466 operatives recruited in October last year, who have been performing their duties in frontline council areas of the state.

He noted that the second batch of 550 would work in 10 selected council areas, including Dutsinma, Kurfi, Charanchi, Musawa, Kankia, Malumfashi, Kafur, Danja, Funtua, and Bakori.

He added that the recruitment of the first batch of SWC led to significant improvements in security in the areas they were stationed, and the second batch would help build on gains achieved over the past year.

Radda also called on residents in areas affected by insecurity to provide information to both SWC and other security operatives to enable them to carry out their responsibilities effectively.

Meanwhile, suspected bandits killed two security operatives and injured five others during an attack at 9 p.m. on Thursday in Jibia council.

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The attack resulted in the death of an assistant commander of the SWC, Balarabe Lawal, 30, and Jamilu Mai-Uguwa, 35, who was attached to the Youth Security Volunteers Group in the area.

The terrorists also injured the head of the youth volunteer group, Gaddafi Lawal, and four other persons.

The Special Adviser to the state governor on Victims of Banditry, Saidu Ibrahim, confirmed the incident to newsmen.

Ibrahim stated that the injured had been taken to the hospital and were receiving medical attention.

The spokesperson for the police command in the state, ASP Abubakar Aliyu, did not immediately respond to calls and messages on the issue.