The Governor of Katsina State, Dikko Radda has solicited the assistance of the Nigerian Navy to tackle the security challenges facing the state.
He made this plea on Friday in Abuja when he paid a visit to the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Auwal Gambo in his office.
In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ibrahim Muhammed, Radda told the Naval Chief that he was at the Naval headquarters to seek advice and consent on how to tackle the security issues in the state.
He said the nation has been bedeviled with security challenges such as banditry and kidnapping, as such the state needs the support of the military, the Nigeria Police, and the Civil Defence to ensure professionalism when the state starts its recruitment for the local vigilante forces.
Governor Radda said he wanted to initiate the Borno State JTF Initiative in Katsina state, “with your advice and support we should be able to do that.”
He said security is expensive hence the state government’s intention to deploy technology as it is being done in the Falgore forest in Kano State.
Responding the Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral Auwal Gambo congratulated the governor on his recent election and commended him for taking the bold initiative of reaching out to the Service Chiefs, “This goes to show your political will and commitment to fight insecurity in Katsina State”.
Gambo said the governor’s visit to the Naval headquarters would further reinforce the mutual relationship between the Navy and Katsina State adding that, the Navy has a special force that is working with other military arms to fight insecurity in Katsina State.
He also informed Radda that, the Navy has a Force Operating base in the Batsari Local Government Area and acknowledged the state government’s support to the Navy in the area of accommodation and medical facilities.
Gambo also told the Governor that the Navy places a high premium on military-civil relationships and that the state will continue to benefit from its outreach programs as he expressed commitment alongside other services to assist the state to tackle its security challenges.
