The Special Task Force, Operation Safe Haven, has trained 103 youths in armed combat and intelligence gathering in Plateau and parts of Kaduna and Bauchi states.
The training is part of the military’s efforts to combat insecurity in Kaduna state’s southern regions.
The trainees were honored at the OPSH Sector 7 Command in Kafanchan, Jema’a Local Government Area, Kaduna State, with a graduation ceremony.
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The formation and training of the civilians was informed by the displacement of some communities by bandits in 2021, according to the sector’s commander, Col. Timothy Opurum, who spoke at the trainees’ graduation on Saturday.
“The displacement of people living in Jankasa and Kachechere villages under Ungwan Gaya District prompted this training,” he explained.
“When I took over, I discovered that no one lived in those areas as a result of an incident that occurred there last year.”
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“I drew these youths from among all the indigenes who had been displaced from that place and provided them with basic training based on that.”
“This is to allow the people to reclaim their lands, especially as a new farming season approaches,” he added.
According to Opurum, security is a collective responsibility, which is why residents must be involved in the fight against crime.
“Security is everyone’s business, and no single organization can claim to have a monopoly on it.”
“It is on this basis that we believe there is a need to assist the community in establishing a secure environment conducive to socioeconomic development.”
“We may not be able to completely eliminate crime, but we can reduce it to the bare minimum if we work together,” he said.
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According to him, the civilian joint task force is made up of young people from various ethnic groups and religious backgrounds.
Members of the civilian joint task force will collaborate under the command’s control and supervision.
