Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje on Thursday disclosed that the state has trained 6,000 people inside the Falgore Forest in the past three weeks to boost security.
He said the government was also using technology to monitor activities in the forest to track bandits and other criminal elements.
Ganduje stated this during a side interview at this year’s Chief of the Naval Staff Annual Conference (CONSAC) held at Coronation Hall, Kano State.
According to him, the government has actualised the planned stationing of troops in the forest to curb encroachment by criminal elements.
The Nation reports that Ganduje, some months ago, raised the alarm over the activities of bandits and criminal herders inside the forest and subsequently promised to allocate land to the Nigerian Army to build a training camp.
We are monitoring what is happening there. It is not only for Kano State, but also for the neighbouring states and entire country.”
The Governor said collaboration among all maritime stakeholders and agencies was necessary for improved maritime security that will ensure economic prosperity.
Using Kano State as a reference, Ganduje said residents have enjoyed peace and security as a result of proactive measures, workable security strategies such as the constitution of a joint security task force comprising all military and paramilitary organisations for good synergy.
He listed the establishment of an advanced police communication centre at Police Command Bompai to track criminals and deployment of Information Communication Technology (ICT) approach to tackle the menace of kidnapping and other criminalities through the use of one of the best tracking devices in the country, as well as the establishment of robust community policing, among others.
In a related development, the Kaduna State Government has announced the ban of transportation of livestock from the state to other states in the country with immediate effect.
The State Government had earlier suspended weekly markets and banned the felling of trees in some frontline local government areas of the state.
The state’s Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan who announced the ban of livestock transportation in a statement yesterday, said the decision was based on wide consultation and thorough security reviews.
Aruwan said the ban also prohibits the transportation of livestock into Kaduna State from other states.
The Commissioner said: “The government also wishes to reiterate that the transportation of donkeys into the state is a criminal offence and anyone found engaging in this will be prosecuted accordingly.
“Furthermore, the Kawo weekly market which usually holds every Tuesday in Kaduna North Local Government Area has been suspended with immediate effect.
“The government of Kaduna State wishes to highlight that the previous directives suspending weekly markets, and selling of petrol in jerry cans in Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Chikun, Igabi and Kajuru local government areas, as well as banning of felling of trees for timber, firewood and charcoal and other commercial purposes in Birnin Gwari, Kachia, Kajuru, Giwa, Chikun, Igabi and Kauru council areas are still in force.
“Citizens are hereby informed that all these directives will be vigorously enforced by security agencies,” Aruwan stated.