The Kano State Government has inaugurated 2,000 members of the Neighbourhood Watch Corps, a state-owned paramilitary outfit aimed at enhancing internal security and promoting community-based policing.
The passing-out ceremony took place at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano, following the enactment of a law by the Kano State House of Assembly establishing the corps to complement conventional security agencies.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, who presided over the event, presented 88 Hilux vehicles, two for each of the state’s 44 local government areas—and 440 motorcycles, with 10 assigned to each council, to support the corps’ operations.
Addressing the recruits after parade drills, silent drills, and unarmed combat demonstrations, Governor Yusuf described the initiative as both a security measure and a youth empowerment programme.
“We are not just celebrating your graduation; we are inaugurating a new chapter in community security and reaffirming our commitment to youth empowerment,” he said. “Lasting peace is built on security and opportunity. An idle mind is vulnerable, but an engaged and employed youth is a fortress against crime.”
He explained that the Neighbourhood Watch Corps is designed to professionalise community security while providing dignity and livelihoods to young men and women who will serve on the front lines of public service.
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Governor Yusuf added that the programme complements broader state employment initiatives, including the recent recruitment of mathematics teachers and the engagement of over 4,000 beneficiaries through the BESDA programme to tackle gaps in education and employment.
Highlighting evolving security challenges, particularly in border communities, the governor stressed the importance of intelligence gathering, vigilance, and rapid response.
“No single agency can secure Kano State alone. Effective security today demands cooperation, coordination, and intelligence sharing,” he said, emphasising that the new corps would work alongside the Nigeria Police Force, DSS, NSCDC, the military, and other security agencies.
Governor Yusuf also revealed that Kano is in talks with neighbouring Katsina, Bauchi, and Kaduna states to develop joint border operations and shared intelligence frameworks to tackle cross-border banditry and criminal networks.
Chairman of the North-West Governors’ Forum, Katsina State Governor Dikko Umar Radda, praised the initiative and urged recruits to approach their assignment as a patriotic and divine duty.
Senator Yahaya Abdullahi, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Security and Intelligence, described Kano’s approach as a proactive step toward safeguarding citizens. Former Minister of Defence, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, also commended the programme but called for increased recruitment into the Nigerian Armed Forces to strengthen national security.
The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, emphasised that sustainable security requires close collaboration with traditional institutions and active community engagement, stressing the need for trust and synergy at the grassroots level.
