Kwankwaso Urges Stronger Fight Against Terrorism As Kano Unveils Neighbourhood Watch

National leader and 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has challenged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to demonstrate stronger political will in tackling terrorism, banditry and other criminal activities.

Kwankwaso, a former minister of defence and two-term governor of Kano State, spoke yesterday at the passing out parade of 2,000 personnel of the Kano State Neighbourhood Watch Corps. He said the persistent insecurity was not due to lack of capacity by the Nigerian military but inadequate political resolve at the highest level.

According to him, Nigerian troops have consistently distinguished themselves in international peacekeeping missions in countries such as Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Darfur. He noted that with proper equipment, training, and decisive leadership, they are capable of defeating criminal elements occupying ungoverned spaces across the country.

He urged the federal government to dislodge bandits when negotiations fail decisively and to make massive investments in recruitment, equipment, and the retraining of security personnel.

Kwankwaso further advised the federal government to absorb trained youths from states in the North-west and other regions into the armed forces, stressing that Nigeria requires no fewer than one million military personnel to secure its population effectively. He added that any government that fails to protect lives and property has fallen short of its primary responsibility and should apologise to citizens.

In his remarks, Governor Abba Yusuf said his administration’s security strategy combines safety with opportunity, stressing that the Neighbourhood Watch initiative would strengthen community-based intelligence while providing employment and dignity for youths.

He noted that the scheme would complement conventional security agencies through inter-agency collaboration and regional cooperation with neighbouring states to curb cross-border criminal activities.