Niger govt denies plan to recruit 4,000 youths to combat insecurity

The Niger state government has denied it plans to recruit 4,000 youths across the 25 local government areas of the state to tackle its security challenges.

Commissioner for Local Government, Community Development and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mallam Abdulmalik Sarkin Daji, who was credited with disclosing the information to the media flatly denied it on Friday.

Sarkin Daji said he never granted the interview or spoke at any forum on any plans to recruit anyone for security purposes.

Niger State has been at the mercy of bandits in the last year, a situation that has often led many to suggest the strengthening of local vigilante to join in the battle against the bandits.

Sarkin Daji admitted the security challenges the government was grappling with, but disclosed that the government has no any immediate plan to engage the youths in the fight against armed bandits.

According to Sarkin Daji, while the state government welcomes the idea of the state policing to compliment the efforts of security agencies who have remained committed to the fight against armed bandits and other criminal elements across the state, the government has not approved the engagement of youths to fight insecurity.

He expressed the commitment of the government to end the activities of the armed bandits in the state, and disclosed that over 2,000 local vigilantes have been mobilised across the state to compliment the efforts of the Joint TaskForce combating armed banditry in the state.

He stressed that the state government will continue to give the necessary support to security agencies in the state to enable them win the war against armed bandits and all forms of criminalities in the state.