Zamfara Launches Community Protection Guard To Fight Terrorism, Banditry

By Akinwale Kasali

Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has launched a security outfit, Community Protection Guards, CPG

The Security outfit is aimed at fighting and addressing the insecurity challenges in the State.

Governor Lawal said his administration embarked on the arduous task with a commitment to gradual reforms across all sectors of the state’s economy to instill sanity and accelerate development, by bringing an end to the activities of banditry and terrorism in the State.

Speaking at the launch of the security outfit, the Governor said, “while we make these efforts, the lofty goals we set out to achieve will remain a mirage as long as the formidable challenge of insecurity remains unaddressed. This informed our decision to, among other things, establish the Community Protection Guards known as Askarawa. The Steering Committee for establishing the Community Protection Guards traversed the 14 Local Government Areas and screened eligible volunteers for enrollment into the outfit.

“ We believe that the bulk of the challenges we face as a state and region are borne out of severe neglect in advancing public policy to serve the socioeconomic expectations of our people. We will never take for granted the message of the people of our state through their votes in March 2023.

“Today, therefore, the first batch of the Community Protection Guards, 2,645, are graduating. These young, energetic and vibrant personnel have undergone rigorous training, extensive drilling, and an understanding of the rules of engagement, amongst other skills, in the discharge of their responsibility of partnering, assisting and working with the security agencies to defend our communities”.

The event attracted the presence of many dignitaries within and outside the state.

The former National Security Adviser, General Aliyu Mohammed Gusau was Chairman of the occasion. Katsina state Governor Umar Dikko Radda, Ahmad Aliyu of Sokoto State, Nasir Idris of Kebbi State, Abba Kabir of Kano State, Umar Namadi of Jigawa State and Kaduna State Deputy Governor Dr. Hadiza Balarabe who represented Governor Uba Sani were among dignitaries at the event.

Also present were the former governors of the state, Sen Ahmed Sani Yarima and Mahmuda Aliyu Shinkafi, as well as politicians, government officials, traditional and religious leaders and other prominent sons and daughters of the state.