By Sabiu Abdullahi
Political analyst and lecturer at Bayero University Kano, Saidu Ahmad Dukawa, has expressed serious concern over the welfare of the recently commissioned Neighborhood Security Corps in Kano State.
In a Facebook post, the don laments that the recruits have yet to receive their promised monthly allowances, despite being screened for the job nearly a year ago.
Dukawa wrote: “I just learnt that the recently commissioned Neighborhood Security Corps of Kano State are yet to receive the monthly stipend promised to them. When considered from the period of screening them for the job, one is talking of a duration of one year!”
He warned that such delays could undermine the effectiveness of the security initiative. He added that it lends credence to arguments against the creation of State Police. Dukawa urged those close to Governor Abba Kabir to inform him that the situation requires urgent and compassionate attention.
The warning comes amid growing security concerns in Kano State. In a recent development, gunmen reportedly abducted the Secretary of Kibiya Local Government Area during a late-night attack at his residence in Dinya town.
According to Hon. Sabo Yusuf Usman, Chairman of the Councillors in Kibiya, the attackers woke the secretary’s son under the pretext of illness, forcing him to alert his father, before seizing both father and son.
The boy was later released, but the secretary was taken away before security operatives could respond.
While Kibiya has not historically been linked to significant security threats, neighboring areas such as Tsanyawa and Shanono, which share a border with Katsina State, have recently experienced a spate of bandit attacks.
The abduction manifests the fragile security situation and raises questions about the readiness and motivation of local security personnel.
Experts say that ensuring timely payment of allowances and proper welfare for Neighborhood Security Corps staff is crucial for maintaining their effectiveness.
As debates around state-level policing powers continue nationwide, the Kano situation exemplifies the challenges of implementing local security structures without adequate funding and support, with the recent Kibiya incident serving as a stark reminder of the stakes involved.
