Katsina State Government said it spent more than N36 billion in the past two years to tackle insecurity across 34 Local Government Areas.

Deputy governor of the state, Farouk Lawal, who stated this at a press conference on Tuesday, said expenditure was a collaborative effort with the council areas.

Lawal said the money was expended in the purchase of various hardware for both conventional and non-conventional security operatives in the state.

According to him, the “state government has in collaboration with 34 local government areas of the state, expended the sum of N36,865,034, 376.76 to carry out the following activities: supply of 10 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC), 65 Toyota Hilux and 700 Daylong motorcycles.

“Procurement of 1,900 units of tactical covert equipment for the take-off of Katsina Community Watch Corps. Payment of monthly allowances of 1,500 vigilantees, 1,279 community support groups, 6,652 wards heads, 2,515 Imams, 2,515 Ladans and 2,515 Na’ibis.

“Recruitment, kitting and training for Batches 1 and 2 Katsina Security Watch Corps personnel. Training of 1,100 community volunteers from the eight frontline local government areas. Purchase of drones, trackers and communication network equipment for intelligence gathering.

“Purchase of combat equipment, consumables, live jackets, helmets. The government has adopted both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches in dealing with insecurity challenges to achieve maximum results.”

The deputy governor also said part of the efforts at tackling insecurity included the setting up of a state government-owned security outfit, known as the Katsina Community Watch Corps (KCWC).

He said 1,466 personnel of the corps were recruited as the first batch and were deployed to eight frontline councils of Dandume, Faskari, Kankara, Danmusa, Batsari, Jibia, Sabuwa, and Safana.

He said 550 persons were employed as the second batch and were deployed to ten vulnerable councils, including Bakori, Musawa, Malumfashi, Danja, Funtua, Matazu, Charanchi, Batagarawa, Kurfi, and Dutsinma.

He added that 1,500 vigilante members were also recruited, while an additional 200 civilian hunters were engaged in vulnerable areas to complement the efforts of conventional security agencies in combating insecurity.

In the area of assisting victims of insecurity, Lawal said over N900 million had been expended for their medication, among other related needs.

“In order to cushion the trauma and sufferings of victims of armed banditry and internally displaced persons across the State, the Government has incurred an expenditure of N985,976,842.00 for their medication, financial assistance, and other support interventions,” he said.

“So far, a total of 2,286 victims have been offered financial assistance.”

He assured that “measures taken in this regard are yielding positive results, as peace and stability have returned back to some areas hitherto ransacked by the dreaded armed bandits.”