In a significant move to bolster community security, Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has officially inaugurated the first batch of a new Neighbourhood Watch corps. The launch event, which took place on 23 December 2025, also served as a platform for the Governor to strongly advocate for the establishment of state police in Nigeria.
A New Community Security Architecture
Governor Yusuf presented the pioneering group of 2,000 young men and women at their passing-out parade. These new recruits have been trained to act as intelligence agents and community security guides across Kano State. The Governor explained that this local force is designed to provide vigilance and rapid response capabilities, arguing that conventional security agencies need local partners who intimately know the terrain to effectively end insecurity.
"Our administration operates on a core philosophy that lasting peace is built on a foundation of security and opportunity," Governor Yusuf stated. He emphasized the dual purpose of the initiative, saying, "We cannot have one without the other. An idle mind is vulnerable to manipulation, but an engaged, employed, and educated youth is a fortress against the tides of violence and criminality."
Operational Logistics and Broader Security Strategy
To ensure the immediate operational capacity of the new corps, Governor Yusuf unveiled a substantial fleet of assets. This included 88 vehicles and 440 motorcycles assigned for the Neighbourhood Watch's patrol and response activities.
While the neighbourhood watch is established to complement conventional security forces, Governor Yusuf called for enhanced synergy between state and federal agencies to combat banditry. He further affirmed Kano State's commitment to collaborate with other Northwestern states to develop joint strategies. These strategies would focus on:
- Coordinated border operations.
- Shared intelligence frameworks to address cross-border threats.
State Police as the Ultimate Antidote
Beyond the immediate community policing effort, Governor Yusuf positioned the launch within a larger national debate. He insisted that the establishment of state police remains the critical antidote to Nigeria's insecurity, as it would formally pave the way for deeper community participation in the security architecture.
The Governor highlighted the socio-economic benefit of the scheme, noting it has provided careers and livelihoods for the 2,000 recruited youths. "With the graduation of over 2,000 of you today, we have formally taken over 2,000 young men and women off the streets and placed them onto the front lines of civil service," he said. "You are not just securing your communities, you are building a career, earning a livelihood, and becoming role models for the next generation."
The launch of the Neighbourhood Watch represents Kano State's proactive, multi-faceted approach to tackling security challenges, combining immediate local action with advocacy for long-term structural change in Nigeria's policing system.
