The Zamfara State Government intends to purchase 7,000 guns for Community Protection Guards operatives who will be deployed in rural communities and villages to protect residents from bandits.
It was learned that the state would assist the guards in obtaining firearms licences from the police.
Ahead of this, 100 people who applied to join the CPG are being trained at a police academy.
Disclosing this on Tuesday, the media aide to the state governor, Zailani Bappa, explained that the men would be armed and dispatched to their communities after their training by the police.
He said, “Right now, members of the first batch of the guards are being trained by the police at the police training college. But already, the governor has supplied the guards with 1,500 motorcycles and 20 Hilux vans to start with and the government would assist them to apply for a licence to own guns legitimately.
“They would individually apply as citizens of Nigeria; the government would only assist them. The idea is that every youth endorsed as a good citizen by the community leaders would be given the opportunity to apply for a licence to own guns and defend their communities before the military comes, in case of any attacks.
“So, we want to employ at least 7,000 of them across the state because we have so many villages. The problem we are facing is this: the military and the police are so overstretched. So, some bandits would come and do whatever they want to do in the villages before the military arrives.”
Bappa explained that many villages and rural communities are beyond the reach of the security forces, noting that the CPGs would act as the first line of defence during attacks by terrorists.
He added, “Members of the CPG are living in the community; they would be the first line of defence to defend their communities before the military comes in. This is the essence of the programme. The firearms and licence would be procured for every member of the community who is endorsed by the community and local chairman as a person of good character.”
The state Commissioner of Police, Yusuf Kolo, could not be reached for comment.
He had yet to respond to a text message seeking his reaction to the state’s plan.
Giving an overview of the security measures and the progress recorded so far, the media aide explained that Governor Bello Matawalle reached an understanding with the bandits to surrender their arms leading to the recovery of 1,000 weapons.
Bappa stated that the governor secured the approval of the Chief of Air Staff, the Chief of Army Staff and the Inspector- General of Police before meeting with the bandits.
Following the development, Bappa disclosed that nearly 3,000 abductees were released within nine months without ransom payment.
He said, “After the Federal Government cancelled all kinds of negotiation with bandits, Dr Bello Matawalle administration introduced what was known as the ‘carrot and stick’ approach which involved the use of both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches to end banditry in the state. Those who accept to lay down their arms will be re-absorbed into society. Those who refuse will be fought.”