Safety expert Halilu Hassan has advocated for the incorporation of at least 300 volunteer vigilantes by each local council of Kaduna state for better monitoring and response to security issues in their localities.
Hassan who is the head of Safety Unit, Federal College of Education, Zaria made the recommendation in an interview with newsmen in Zaria.
He noted that the volunteer vigilante members have been playing pivotal role in grassroots security and needed to be encouraged to do more.
He added that these cohorts of security personnel work in collaboration with key security operatives to identify and apprehend criminals in their midst, thereby ensuring a peaceful atmosphere in their localities.
Halilu Hassan, therefore, recommended a token of N10,000 for each personnel as take home to encourage performance; stressing that the stipend will amount to N3m per month and describes such amount as very affordable.
According to him, the amount is not only affordable by local councils but will also justify some spending engaged by council administrators each month.
“These 300 men can beef the manpower strength of key security agencies working in rural areas across Kaduna state to strengthen fight against crime,’’ he said.
He explained that the Chairmen can leverage on their internally generated revenue and budget on security to commence the initiative.
“I am aware that some LGA’s paid party executives from local government to ward levels similar amount for no just cause. Such councils should extend same gesture to the vigilante members,’’ he said.
The expert believed that with strategic planning and proper implementation of this initiative, the security challenges bedeviling most parts of the state could be reduced to a barest minimum level.
Jibril Zaria
