Ahead of Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary, some Kaduna residents have welcomed President Bola Tinubu’s administration decision to recruit more military and police personnel to boost security across the nation.

A cross-section of the residents who spoke about security amidst ongoing anniversary celebrations in Kaduna also lauded the administration for establishing more military divisions and barracks to tackle insecurity.

They said the administration’s training and deployment of forest guards in various states, including Kaduna, would also strengthen the fight against insecurity.

Residents also described the proposed improvement in salary and welfare packages for military personnel as a positive development that could boost morale and commitment to duty.

Abubakar Sadiq, a trader at Sheikh Abubakar Gumi Market, said establishing military barracks in areas that previously had none could improve security and stimulate development.

He stressed, however, that the measures’ effectiveness would depend largely on the government’s ability to ensure arrested offenders were properly prosecuted and punished under the law.

“If people are arrested for committing crimes and nothing happens to them, we will not achieve the desired result.

“Whatever measures the government takes, including establishing new barracks and divisions, can improve security and bring development, but justice and punishment for offenders are very important. When offenders are properly dealt with according to the law, it will serve as a deterrent to others,” he said.

Bulus Dauda, a civil servant, called for proper investigation whenever civilians or security personnel died during security operations, saying this would strengthen public confidence in the system.

Rabiu Ahmed and Ezekiel Buba, traders at Central Market, commended the government’s efforts but called for a review of the military command and operational structure to ensure faster responses to attacks.

They observed that in some cases, military formations were located close to areas attacked by bandits, yet intervention was sometimes delayed.

They urged security agencies to establish clear lines of responsibility and improve coordination so that the nearest agency could respond immediately whenever an attack occurred.

They also called for continuous surveillance of criminal hideouts, including bushes and other vulnerable areas, stressing that effectively deploying existing personnel was as important as increasing their number.

Zubairu Muhammad, who identified himself as a businessman, called for greater support for military personnel and their families, noting that their sacrifices in protecting the country deserved proper attention.

Mr Muhammad urged stakeholders, including community leaders and other senior members of the society, to support initiatives aimed at improving the welfare of security personnel.

Usman Nasiru, a local barber, said any government initiative to improve security was welcome, but urged that such measures be implemented fairly and transparently. He called for sustained support and prayers for all security agencies for more successes in tackling insecurity in the country.

Fatima Abubakar, a civil servant, appealed to the government to urgently address insecurity, saying residents were facing difficulties in transportation, education and other daily activities.

Ms Abubakar said security personnel had an important responsibility to protect lives and property and needed all necessary support.

Hauwa Isah, a food vendor, commended the increase in military and police recruitment and the expansion of Army divisions, describing the measures as commendable steps toward addressing the nation’s security challenges.

Ms Isah also welcomed the improved salary package for military personnel, saying better welfare could motivate security personnel to perform their duties effectively. She, however, urged the government to take the security situation seriously and called on security personnel to remain committed to the oath they took to defend Nigeria and Nigerians.

Ms Isah also appealed to citizens to support government efforts, stressing that security is a collective responsibility and cannot be achieved by the government alone.

(NAN)