Katsina State Government and its 34 local councils have spent N36.8 billion to establish a formidable security structure aimed at addressing insecurity in the state.

The Deputy Governor, Faruk Lawal-Jobe, who disclosed this at a press briefing on Tuesday in Katsina, said the amount was spent from the inception of the administration till date.

He said that the funds were used “to purchase 10 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), 65 Toyota Hiluxes and 700 Daylong motorcycles. Procurement of 1,900 units of tactical combat equipment for the take-off of Katsina Community Watch Corps, which is a state-owned security outfit.

He stated, “Payment of monthly allowances to 1,500 members of vigilantes, 1,279 community support groups, 6,652 ward heads, 2,515 Imams, 2,515 prayer callers (Ladans) and 2,515 deputy Imams. Recruitment, kitting and training for batches one and two of Katsina Security Watch Corps personnel. Training of 1,100 community volunteers from the eight frontline local government areas. Purchase of drones, trackers and communication network equipment for intelligence gathering; purchase of combat equipment, consumables, live jackets, helmets, walkie-talkies, and teargas hand grenades, among others.”

He said that the government spent N985.9 million for medical treatment, financial assistance, and other interventions for banditry victims.

Mr Lawal-Jobe further stated that a total of 2,286 victims had benefited from the financial assistance.

He added that the government recruited 1,466 security watch corps under phase one and deployed them to the eight frontline local governments.

The deputy governor said the local governments are Dandume, Faskari, Kankara, Danmusa, Batsari, Jibia, Sabuwa and Safana.

He stated that under phase two, 550 Security Watch Corps were deployed to 10 vulnerable local governments of Bakori, Musawa, Malumfashi, Danja, Funtua, Matazu, Charanchi, Batagarawa, Kurfi and Dutsin-Ma.

The deputy governor revealed that 200 civilian hunters were also engaged and deployed to vulnerable areas to complement the efforts of conventional security agencies.

Mr Lawal-Jobe said that as part of a non-kinetic approach, the government created the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs (MISHA).

He said the ministry was saddled with a responsibility on security issues and became a part of the State Security Council Advisory Committee, among others.

(NAN)