Kano Assembly passes bill establishing state-owned security corps

The Kano State House of Assembly has officially passed a bill establishing the Kano State Neighborhood Security Corps.

The bill, which aims to strengthen internal security in the state, was approved after deliberations in the Committee of the Whole House during a plenary session chaired by Speaker Alhaji Jibrin Falgore (NNPP-Rogo).

Following the deliberations, lawmakers approved the third reading of the bill, as presented by the Clerk.

In a statement after the bill’s passage, the Majority Leader of the House, Alhaji Lawan Husseini (NNPP-Dala), emphasized that the bill had gone through the necessary legislative processes.

He explained that the corps would act as a community policing body to complement the efforts of other security agencies operating in the state.

“This corps will greatly enhance the security situation in Kano State,” Husseini said, underscoring the importance of creating a state-level security outfit.

He drew parallels with southern states like those behind the Amotekun initiative, which have established similar agencies to bolster local security.

The lawmaker outlined that members of the new security corps would be authorized to carry firearms as prescribed by law.

Additionally, the corps will have the power to arrest individuals and hand them over to the police for prosecution.

Husseini also clarified that the personnel to be recruited would not have any political party affiliations, emphasizing the non-partisan nature of the corps.

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“The leadership of the outfit will be entrusted to a non-partisan indigene of the state,” he added.

The Majority Leader also highlighted the qualifications for the leadership of the corps, noting that the Commander General must be a retired security personnel with at least 25 years of service and a rank no lower than Colonel or Commissioner of Police.

There will also be a commander assigned to each of the 44 local government areas in Kano State.

The security agency will be overseen by a board, chaired by an individual appointed by the state governor.

This new security initiative is expected to provide a significant boost to the state’s efforts to improve law and order and combat rising security challenges.