In a decisive move toward localized security architecture, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has formally declared his support for the establishment of State Police, identifying the transition as a vital remedy for the security challenges currently plaguing the federation.
The Governor articulated this position on Tuesday, the 23rd of December, 2025, during the official graduation ceremony for 2,000 members of the Kano State Neighbourhood Watch Corps.
Addressing a large gathering at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Yusuf maintained that the realization of lasting peace and stability is inextricably linked to a strategy that marries aggressive security measures with the provision of economic opportunities and sustainable jobs. He pointed out that the presence of an idle and unemployed youth population creates a fertile ground for criminal activities.
According to the Governor, the creation of state police departments would serve as a force multiplier for existing agencies, creating a more seamless framework for addressing national insecurity.
“With the graduation of over 2,000 young men and women today, we have taken them off the streets and placed them on the front lines of civil service,” the governor said. “They are not only securing their communities but building careers, earning livelihoods and serving as role models for future generations.”
Governor Yusuf further explained that the decentralization of the police force would empower states to react more effectively to local threats, as state-led initiatives are naturally better aligned with the specific cultural nuances, environments, and challenges of their communities.
“The issue of insecurity requires collective and innovative approaches,” he said, adding that state police, if properly organised and regulated, will boost security at the grassroots and support federal agencies to keep law and order.
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The newly inaugurated Kano State Neighbourhood Watch Corps is comprised of 2,000 operatives, including 1,870 men and 130 women, who are designated for deployment across all 44 local government areas of the state. The Governor confirmed that these personnel have finished their rigorous training and stand prepared to tackle significant security hurdles within the state.
To bolster their operational efficiency, the administration is equipping the corps with 88 Hilux patrol vehicles and 440 motorcycles, ensuring the team possesses the mobility required for rapid response and effective surveillance. Yusuf characterized the launch of this outfit as a transformative step in enhancing community-based safety throughout both the urban centers and rural outskirts of Kano.
He emphasized that the corps is designed to work in close partnership with conventional security agencies to uphold public order. He noted that recent safety trends within the state have underscored the necessity for heightened alertness, robust intelligence gathering, and a capacity for fast action.
While the Governor took a moment to commend the dedication of existing federal security agencies, he insisted on the indispensable value of community-led groups that possess intimate knowledge of the local terrain. He concluded by charging the new operatives to exercise their mandates with the highest levels of discipline, professionalism, and a strict adherence to human rights. Yusuf reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to funding the security sector, noting that the state’s economic and social progress rests entirely on a foundation of peace.