By Olukayode Idowu
Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-rufai has pledged to support the families of slain officers and men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) who paid the supreme price in the course of protecting miners and mining sites in the state.
The support is to cushion the effects of the hardship that the loss of their breadwinners may have created.
El-rufai made the pledge when he hosted the Commandant General of NSCDC, Dr Ahmed Audi, recently at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House, Kaduna, where he condoled with the CG on the death of the men who died in active service.
A statement on Sunday by the spokesman of the NSCDC, Olusola Odumosu said the Kaduna Governor sympathised with the loved ones killed officers and the NSCDC family, promising continuous support in terms of logistics, operational equipment, and working tools to improve its operational services.
The Governor expressed satisfaction with the performance of the Corps, especially in the protection of critical assets and infrastructure in the state, citing the mining sector as significant to the growth of the nation’s economy.
He said that the activities of bandits and incidences of attacks on innocent citizens have become so worrisome.
The Governor in order to enhance the closeness of security services to the grassroots and accessibility to the people, directed all Local Government Chairmen in the state to build more Outposts for the Corps in their councils.
He commended the CG for bringing about transformational changes in the Corps, like the establishment of the Special Female Squad, which is driving the Safe Schools Initiative, among other efforts.
The NSCDC helmsman on his part,, thanked the governor for his magnanimity in remembering the bereaved families.
He also commended his heart of kindness and humane personality even as a Governor with loads of state issues in mind, adding that the bereaved families will be grateful for this kind gesture.
Audi while appreciating him for the promised given on building of more outposts, stated that the gesture will aid easy communication, reinforcement of personnel and reduce response time to emergencies.
He noted that, the Governor’s support is coming at the right time because, in order to improve the operational activities of the Corps in the State, he already approved the creation of additional eight Divisional offices, three Area Commands and more Outposts in the state.
Audi assured the Governor of the Corps’ determination and commitment to doing its best in securing lives and protecting critical assets and infrastructure in the state without compromise.
He promised to invest in adequate training and retraining of personnel by organising more refresher courses that will help upscale the skills, prepare, equip, and properly position the personnel well for undertaking different security assignments. The Commandant General was accompanied by the NSCDC Zone B Commander, ACG Muhammed Lawal Haruna, fdc, Kaduna State Commandant, Idris Yahaya Adah, newly deployed Lagos State Commandant, Usman Alfadarai and Akwa Ibom State Commandant, Dr Yusuf Imam as well as the Director of Public Relations of the Corps, Deputy Commandant Olusola Odumosu and other senior Officers.