The Minister of Interior Mr Rau’f Aregbesola has directed all agencies under the Ministry of Interior to as a matter of urgency establish Special Female Squad.
This is to complement the effort of the Federal and various State Governments in checkmating banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling and violence against women across the country.
The minister issued this directive in his keynote address during the passing out parade of the newly established female squad of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, held at the NSCDC Training College located in Katsina.
The minister while restating the commitment of the Federal Government to eliminating all forms of insecurity bedevilling the country observed that insecurity is not worsening as before with the reduction in the spate of security challenges and efforts are according to him yielding fruits.
“We believe that this empowerment given to the squad as a special unit will be a motivation for them and make them promote the dignity of women.
” The title of my speech is ” Give Our Women Their Due Chance”.
“Today’s occasion is memorable and response to the national security challenge and intended to add value to security and enhance the capacity and operational efficiency of the NSCDC.
“Women are more than half of the population and including them in all aspects of nation-building and security is eminence.
“Native intelligence established that women are more loyal and focus on many assignments than men.
“And for the avoidance of doubt, I am directing all the agencies in the Ministry of Interior to start their own female squad”. Aregbesola added.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Commandant General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Ahmad Abubakar Audi announced that the recent upsurge and frequency of attacks on schools by bandits who engaged in kidnapping of students for ransom made it imperative for the Corps to focus attention on intensifying security in the school environments as a prospective measure towards guaranteeing safety and restoring the confidence of students, parents, teachers and the community in the country’s security architecture.
To this end, he said the Corps carried out a vulnerability survey on schools in Nigeria with a view to identifying those that are highly vulnerable to attacks.
“Today’s occasion, therefore, marks the beginning of our efforts in this direction.
” I want to assure citizens of this great country that the Corps will not relent and will continue to take proactive measures in synergizing with other sister security agencies and stakeholders to ensure a safe environment for Nigerians and to guarantee peace and socio-economic development of the country”. He explained.
On his part, the Chief Host and Governor of Katsina State represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Mustapha Muhammad Inuwa attested that the initiative has come at the right time when the system of education in the country is experiencing serious threat and attack with many parents and students in the North are becoming apprehensive.
He said with this initiative there will be a restoration of confidence to the parents and children, urging the NSCDC to increase the number of the squad in order to cover all the vulnerable schools across the country.
The 76 special female squad undergone Four weeks of training on various aspects in combating and repelling attack, rescuing victims of kidnap, assembling and dissembling weapons, gun shooting and routine patrol among other training.
In the meantime, prizes were presented to outstanding members of the squad among which include, Aba Ada Victoria who has emerged as the best shooter of the year 2021 and attached with cash of 150,000 Naira.
Similarly, one, Tijani Daminola Jonathan emerged as the best in assembling and dissembling weapon and with 100,000 Naira as well as Arugbe Francisca who emerged as the best overall trainee and presented with 100,000 Naira and the sum of 400,000 Naira Cash was also presented to the teaming instructors.
Graduands are therefore charged to bring the knowledge gained in the course of this training to bear in the discharge of their duties and effectively curtail and checkmate the current security challenges confronting the nation so that Nigerians can sleep with their two eyes closed.
