The Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has expressed strong support for President Bola Tinubu’s call for the creation of State Police, describing it as a vital step toward tackling Nigeria’s growing security challenges.
He made the remarks while unveiling 2,000 members of the Kano State Neighbourhood Watch Corps, at the Sani Abacha Stadium Kano on Tuesday.
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He maintained that lasting peace could only be achieved through a combination of effective security and expanded economic opportunities, noting that idle and unemployed youths were more vulnerable to criminal manipulation.
Governor Yusuf said the establishment of State Police would significantly complement the efforts of existing security agencies and strengthen the fight against insecurity currently bedevilling the country.
“With the graduation of over 2,000 young men and women today, we have taken them off the streets and placed them on the front lines of civil service.
“They are not only securing their communities but building careers, earning livelihoods and serving as role models for future generations,” he said.
According to the governor, decentralising policing through the creation of State Police would enable states to respond more effectively to local security threats, given their better understanding of the terrain, culture and peculiar challenges of their communities.
“The issue of insecurity requires collective and innovative approaches. Adding that State Police, when properly structured and regulated, will strengthen grassroots security and support federal security agencies in maintaining peace and order,” Yusuf said.
The newly established Neighbourhood Watch Corps comprises 2,000 operatives to be deployed across the 44 local government areas of the state to enhance grassroots security and support efforts to curb crime.
Of the total strength, 130 operatives are female, while 1,870 are male.
The governor noted that the operatives have completed their training and will be fully equipped to respond to major security challenges across the state.
He disclosed that the corps would be supported with 88 Hilux patrol vehicles and 440 motorcycles to ensure effective mobility and rapid response.
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The commissioning of the Neighbourhood Watch Corps, he said, marks a significant step by the Kano State Government toward strengthening community-based security architecture and improving public safety in both urban and rural areas.
The corps is expected to work closely with conventional security agencies to maintain law and order across the state.
He noted that Kano State had witnessed evolving security challenges in recent months, underscoring the need for vigilance, intelligence gathering and rapid response. While commending conventional security agencies for their efforts, the governor stressed the importance of community-based partners who understand the local terrain.
Governor Yusuf charged members of the corps to discharge their duties with professionalism, discipline and respect for human rights, stressing the importance of synergy with established security agencies.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to continuous investment in the state’s security architecture, adding that peace and stability remain critical to economic growth and social development in Kano State.
On regional security, the governor disclosed that Kano State was engaging neighbouring states—Katsina, Bauchi and Kaduna—to develop joint strategies, coordinated border operations and shared intelligence frameworks to tackle cross-border banditry and criminal networks.
He said the initiative aligned with the objectives of the Northwest Governors’ Forum, aimed at responding collectively to emerging security threats across the region
Addressing the graduates, the governor charged them to uphold the law, respect citizens’ rights and discharge their duties professionally.
He assured them of the government’s continued support, including the provision of tools and logistics needed for success.
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