Governor Bello Matawalle has begun training for a newly established Zamfara security outfit, the Community Protection Guard (CPG), to tackle banditry and kidnapping in the state.

In a statement announcing the security outfit, Press Secretary to the Governor, Jamilu Birnin-Magaji, said the outfit would support the conventional security agencies.

Mr Matawalle said his administration was tackling the state’s security challenges head-on by “the recruitment of CPGs in each of the 19 Emirate Councils of the state.”

He said the decision to establish the CPG was informed by his administration’s desire to “deal with the increasing act of banditry causing loss of lives, untold hardships and rupturing inter-communal peace in parts of the state.”

“As Community Protection Guards, yours is a patriotic call, your names would stand out in history as people with remarkable patriotism, selflessness and love for peace.

“Only people with courage and bravery will offer to serve as guards of their communities, bravely standing up to face the brutal infamy of the bandits,” the governor told the guards.

Mr Matawalle said the CPG members would be deployed to their various communities in the 19 Emirate Councils of the state to complement the security forces.

The Commissioner of Police in Zamfara, Ayuba Elkana, said the training was part of a series of measures to tackle crimes, and expressed support to Mr Matawalle.

The event was attended by the Speaker, Zamfara House of Assembly, Nasiru Magarya, Secretary to the State Government, Kabiru Balarabe, and Chief of Staff, Government House, Ibrahim Suleiman.

Others included the State Head of Civil Service, Kabiru Muhammad, members of the State Executive Council as well as Heads of security agencies in the state.

(NAN)