The Zamfara State Executive Council has approved the recruitment of 4,200 members for the civilian Joint Task Force to complement the efforts of security agencies in tackling insecurity in the state.
The recruitment of the civilian JTF was among the critical issues deliberated upon at the State Executive Council meeting chaired by Governor Dauda Lawal on Tuesday, according to a statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris.
The statement noted that the meeting also approved the construction of new classrooms, renovation and furnishing of the schools as part of the government’s commitment to increasing educational opportunities.
PUNCH had earlier reported that Governor Lawal had insisted he would not negotiate with bandits but support security agencies to stamp out banditry and other forms of criminality in the state.
The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Mannir Mu’azu Haidara, on Saturday, said the governor had begun implementing a road map that would see the state emerge from years of banditry.
He also noted that the governor would place priority on rebuilding communities shattered by years of insecurity and engage in projects of urban and rural development that would fast-track recovery.
The statement by the governor’s spokesperson on the recruitment of civilian JTF reads, “In his commitment to curb the lingering insecurity, Governor Dauda Lawal approved the recruitment of civilian JTF in all the Local Government Areas of the state.
“While presiding over the State Executive Council meeting, the governor also approved the construction of new sets of classrooms, renovation and furnishing of existing ones across the 14 Local Government Areas of the state.
“Members of the State Executive Council deliberated on the insecurity and deteriorating condition of educational facilities in the state, hence, approved the recruitment of civilian JTF to complement efforts of the military and the police.
“Three hundred civilian JTF will be recruited in each local government area of the State.
“The recruits will undergo rigorous physical training that will prepare them to assist the security agencies with actionable intelligence to combat insecurity.”
It added, “Furthermore, the council approved the construction of additional classrooms in each local government area, providing students with increased opportunities for education.
“Governor Lawal believes that education is a fundamental right for all citizens and his government is committed to ensuring that every Zamfara child has access to quality education.
“The government will construct, renovate and furnish 49 classrooms in Gusau, 11 in Anka, 15 in Bakura, eight in Bukkuyum, 14 in Birnin Magaji, eight in Bungudu, eight in Gummi, 19 in Kaura, eight in Maru, 11 in Maradun, 42 in Shinkafi, eight in Talata Mafara, 27 in Tsafe, and 11 in Zurmi Local Government Areas,” the statement concluded.
The civilian JTF is an initiative adopted by the conflict-ridden states in the North-East and North-West to contend with the Boko Haram terrorists and bandits. It involves engagement of civilian volunteers who work side by side with the regular armed forces deployed in the battlefields to enhance security.
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