Executive Chairman, Kankara Local Government Area, Katsina State, Anas Isah, has said more than 200 non-federal security operatives were working round the clock to help keep terrorists at bay in the area.
Isah, who was speaking in an interview with newsmen, said of the number, 180 of them were members of the state government-established Community Watch Corps (CWC).
He said more than 100 others were members of the local vigilante, and that all of them work closely with federal government-owned security operatives to combat insecurity.
He said the large number of security operatives had contributed in no small measure to reduction in security challenges in the area in recent time.
According to him, terrorists “used to operate like they were adhering to a roster, as hardly a day goes by without we having an attack occuring.
“But of recent, we have seen security improvement in the council area, and I can tell you that the security situation has improved by more than 60 per cent.
“No doubt, there are still pockets of attacks that take place from time to time, but these are usually carried out by strangers that come from far away places.”
Isah said while the state government foots the wages bill for the CWC operatives, the council area provides support in form of fuelling their vehicles, and related logistics.
He, however, said the local vigilantes’ wages and logistics needed for their day to day operation, were handled by the council’s administration.
He commended the security operatives for their efforts at combating insecurity, adding that some of them had lost their lives or were injured in the process.
Isah assured that the council would continue to give necessary support to security operatives so that residents can sleep with their eyes closed.
(Guardian)
