SECURITY CHALLENGES: KNSG RECRUITS 600 YOUTHS FOR TRAINING.
By Bala Salihu Dawakin Kudu – Democracy Newsline Newspaper
23rd September 2025
Kano, Nigeria –
In a decisive move to curb the rising wave of phone snatching, urban thuggery, and related crimes plaguing the state, the Kano State Government (KNSG) has commenced the training of 600 volunteer youths under a newly launched community security initiative. The first batch of 380 participants has already begun a rigorous two-week paramilitary training at the Kano State Corporate Security Institute in Gabasawa, signaling a strategic shift in grassroots-based crime prevention.
The initiative, under the directive of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, is aimed at fortifying community safety and promoting youth empowerment through security involvement. The trained recruits are to be deployed as Special Anti-Phone Snatching and VIP Protection Guards, working in close collaboration with existing law enforcement agencies to restore peace, particularly in urban crime hotspots.
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Phone snatching—often carried out by motorcycle-riding criminals—has become a persistent issue, especially within Kano metropolis. Alongside this, the growing trend of youth involvement in street thuggery and political violence has further strained security efforts.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, Retired Captain Muhammad Bello Mai Gaskiya, the Commandant of the Corporate Security Institute, noted the significance of this intervention, saying:
> “This programme is not just about uniforms and parades. It’s a deliberate strategy to arm our young people with purpose, discipline, and responsibility. By training them in crime prevention and community protection, we are not only securing Kano—we are saving lives.”
He emphasized that the training curriculum includes VIP protection, phone snatching counter-strategies, defensive driving, and basic surveillance techniques. Moreover, there will be lectures from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) addressing substance abuse, as well as counseling sessions by Hisbah personnel to instill moral discipline and civic responsibility.
To ensure a high standard of training and welfare, the facility at the Gabasawa Corporate Security Institute has been fully equipped. During a recent inspection on Saturday, 19th September, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Special Services, Air Vice Marshal Ibrahim Umaru (Rtd), assessed key infrastructure including:
Administrative offices
Hostels and training halls
A power-generating set
Dining and kitchen facilities
A large open training ground for drills and exercises
The Commissioner expressed satisfaction with the state of readiness and affirmed the government’s commitment to long-term support of the programme.
For many of the trainees, the programme represents not just a chance to serve, but a new beginning. Asiya Musa, a young recruit from Kano Municipal Council (KMC), spoke with optimism:
> “This is a life-changing opportunity. Many of us were unemployed or struggling. Now we are learning real skills and contributing to the safety of our people. I am proud to be part of this.”
Her sentiments were echoed by fellow participants Nuhu Alkasim Ya’u and Hauwa Ahmad Bunkure, who emphasized that the initiative will help reduce youth restiveness and open pathways for meaningful careers in security and public service.
Upon completion of the two-week training, the trainees will be absorbed into the state security framework with a modest monthly stipend, and will be assigned to various zones within Kano State to support local law enforcement, especially in volatile areas.
Security analysts have described the programme as a proactive step toward addressing urban insecurity through community-based solutions, calling for sustained funding, monitoring, and accountability mechanisms to ensure effectiveness.
As Kano State steps up its efforts to address modern security challenges, the success of this initiative could serve as a model for other northern states grappling with similar issues. By putting trained, disciplined youths on the frontlines of community safety, the government is sending a strong message: security begins at home, and everyone has a role to play.
