Musa Na Allah, Sokoto
The KUKAH Centre has unveiled a strategic initiative aimed at strengthening grassroots security in Sokoto State by training 200 members of the State’s Community Guards.
The program is designed to build the capacity and capability of the guards, enabling them to better perform their duties and foster effective collaboration with conventional security agencies.
Speaking at the launch of the program, the Director of the KUKAH Centre, Reverend Father Atta Barkindo, PhD, emphasized the Centre’s unwavering commitment to positive change in Nigeria since its establishment in 2008.
According to him, the Centre continues to champion good governance, interfaith dialogue, knowledge sharing, and proper documentation of national experiences to guide future generations and prevent the repetition of past mistakes.
Reverend Father Barkindo identified the root causes of the security challenges facing the Northwest and other parts of the northern region as poverty, unemployment, lack of justice, and widespread desperation among citizens.
He noted that over 2.2 million Nigerians have been displaced due to ongoing insecurity, including banditry, kidnapping, farmer-herder clashes, and insurgency.
Disturbingly, he revealed that 632,000 people were killed across Nigeria within a single year.
Expressing concern over the erosion of public confidence in conventional security institutions, he pointed out that many communities now place their trust in vigilante groups and other informal security outfits.
“As a country, where is Nigeria going?” he asked, stressing the urgency of restoring trust and effectiveness in the nation’s security architecture.
As part of the initiative, the Centre will conduct a comprehensive review of the legal framework establishing the Sokoto State Community Guards.
The aim is to identify existing gaps and limitations to enhance their performance through proper training and a clearer understanding of their operational mandates.
Also speaking at the event, the project manager, Mr Tarseer Bamber, reiterated the Centre’s dedication to raising public awareness on the importance of peace building and social cohesion.
He said the initiative would empower local security structures while promoting harmony and mutual support among citizens.
The training marks a significant step in bridging the divide between formal and informal security actors and creating a safer and more united Nigeria.
