TheCable

Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna, has called on the federal government to recruit 774,000 youths into security agencies. 

The governor spoke on Wednesday while briefing journalists on the security situation in the state.

El-Rufai said 1,000 youths should be recruited from each LGA across the country, adding that it will contribute significantly to improving security.

“Many state governments in the north-west and the north-central have adopted an unconventional approach to help the federal security agencies to better protect our communities. There is no alternative to launching simultaneous operations,” he said.

“I call for a consensus between the federal government and the 36 states on an emergency programme of recruitment into the security agencies. Government can change the game significantly by hiring 1,000 willing youths from each of the 774 LGAs in the country into the security agencies.

“This will be a surge in numbers that is unprecedented since the civil war. An influx of 774,000 new boots on the ground will be a significant blow against criminals and an employment boost.”

El-Rufai’s comments come months after a similar remark by Bola Tinubu, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Speaking at a colloquium to celebrate his 69th birthday in March, Tinubu had said thousands of youths should be recruited into the army.

Meanwhile, the Kaduna governor also said his administration is working to set up a farmer-herder reconciliation council to maintain peace in the state.

“I would also like to inform the security agencies, as well as the traditional leaders here, that we are in the process of establishing a farmers/herdsmen reconciliation council at the state level, as well as similar committees at the local government and chiefdom and emirate levels,” he said.

“This is backed by law, a military edict, enacted in the 1990s. But somehow, we didn’t come across the law until recently. So, we are activating these committees to help in managing clashes between farmers and herdsmen at all levels.”