• Says 22 Katsina LGs affected by insecurity
• NAF bombards terrorists in Tumbun Fulani

Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, has recruited 1,500 youths as Community Watch Corps Officers to work with security personnel in the fight against insecurity in the state.

He said 22 of the 34 local councils were one way or another, affected by the problem.

Radda stated this when he visited the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, at the Police Headquarters, Abuja.

A statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Ibrahim Mohammed, quoted him as saying the security situation was as a result of the over 800 kilometres forest bordering about eight councils in the state.

It added that the governor solicited effective collaboration between the state government and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), towards addressing the challenge.

The statement reads: “Radda maintained that personnel of the Katsina Police Command have demonstrated commitment towards curtailing the menace of banditry and other criminalities facing the state; hence, his administration has resolved to provide them the necessary support and cooperation to achieve desired success.

“Decrying the wanton attacks on communities by bandits, the governor observed that 22 out of the Katsina 34 local councils are affected by insecurity one way or another.”

He used the forum to invite the residents to the Passing Out Parade (POP) of the Community Watch Corps Officers, who are about completing their training, as their presence at the closing ceremony would boost the morale of the officers.

Responding, Egbetokun expressed gratitude to the governor and assured him that the visit would serve as a morale booster to the police, in its commitment towards securing lives and property.

The police chief assured that Katsina would be among the six states to benefit from a special intervention for security agencies, by the Presidency.

“We shall also provide more security vehicles, Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) and combat gadgets to officers and men of the Katsina police command,” the IGP was quoted as saying.

Terrorists hibernating in the Tumbun at the fringes of Lake Chad in Borno State are taking the heat from Nigerian Air Force, as air strikes destroyed their hideouts, structures and strategic logistics base.

Specifically, it was learnt that Tumbun Fulani and Tumbun Shitu were struck between on September 27, 2023 and eve of Independence Day, when activities of terrorists in the locations were confirmed to have constituted a threat to military formations and law-abiding Nigerians residing within the locations.

NAF headquarters disclosed that at Tumbun Fulani, terrorists were observed loading jerry cans in two gun trucks concealed under shrubs.

Spokesman or NAF, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, said: “Subsequently, NAF aircraft were scrambled to interdict the location, believed to be a major logistics base. After the strike, Battle Damage Assessment revealed several terrorists were neutralised and the gun trucks destroyed.