Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda has presided over the Passing Out Parade (POP) of members of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps.
The event, which held at the Muhammadu Dikko Sports Complex in Katsina, was graced by former President Muhammadu Buhari as well as Governors Nasir Idris (Kebbi), Abba Kabir Yusuf (Kano), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Mai Mala Buni (Yobe) and Ahmad Aliyu (Sokoto).
The ceremony marked the completion of over five months training and readiness of the community-based security force.
Governor Radda also inaugurated the steering committee responsible for overseeing the Security Intervention Trust Fund.
Governor Dikko Radda had in September said that his administration recruited at least 1,500 Community Watch Officers drawn from the eight frontline local government areas of the state, as part of measures to empower the residents to defend themselves against terrorist attacks.
The frontline LGs are Jibia, Batsari, Safana, Dan-Musa, Faskari, Sabuwa, Dandume and Kankara.
Radda added that the creation of the Ministry of Internal Security and Katsina State Community Watch Corps were the beginning of institutionalizing his strategy to deal with insecurity where he enacted a security containment order and set up an advisory committee on security in the state.
He said his administration had spent seven billion naira to procure armoured personnel carriers, 65 Hilux vehicles, 700 motorcycles, provided training for the Community Watch Corps Officers, and other security equipment.
