Kaduna’s community leaders have appealed to Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s government to fund vigilantes to strengthen community policing.

They made the call on Tuesday.

One of the community leaders, Isiyaku Garba of Kawo, said vigilance groups had been working to reduce the insecurity in Kaduna and deserve support and encouragement from the government.

He noted that the government should assist the groups with logistics, uniforms and allowances to boost their morale.

“If the government can pay them a monthly allowance, they will go places and make us sleep with our eyes closed,” stated Mr Garba. “At the community level, we have been supporting them with working tools for regular night patrols, with no payment; they do it for humanity and to sanitize the communities.”

He also called for the training of community leaders to mediate and enhance peaceful coexistence within communities.

Mr Garba said the training would promote mutual respect, religious harmony, oneness and cooperation in dealing with contentious issues within communities.

He urged the people to shun ethnic and religious bigotry and live together in peace and harmony.

Mr Garba added that there was a need for a continuous engagement at the community level to tame issues that could lead to conflict.

Gambo Ibrahim, the district head of Tudun Wada, called for creating platforms at community levels for more engagement among members.

He said such platforms would make people appreciate the importance of peaceful coexistence. 

(NAN)