Zamfara Community Guards: Gen Ali Gusau calls for perfect synergy to end banditry

From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

Former National Security Adviser (NSA), General Aliyu Mohammed Gusau has called on both the Police, Armed Forces and the newly inaugurated Community Guards to establish cordial relationship with trust, and to confidently share intelligence in the fight against insecurity that bedeviled the state.
General Gusau submitted this Wednesday while delivering a speech as Chairman of the graduation ceremony of the 2,646 inaugurated Community Protection Guards been initiated by Governor Dauda Lawal administration.
He emphasized the need to share knowledge and trust in the operations with wisdom, saying, “For such collaboration to work, there must be trust, including between and among the security personnel. A recent study about highperforming teams found that trust is the single most important prerequisite for success.
“But trust must be earned, and trust must be built – it does not come cheap. I would therefore implore you to get to know all your counterparts, and to share intelligence and knowledge diligently and proactively. Moreover, transparency fosters trust.There should be no room for power struggles or egos in the fight against our common enemies.
“As it should be, the idea is for the CPG to support efforts of the Nigerian Police Force to work towards achieving security in our beloved state. Let me also use this opportunity to urge all the personnel of the new security outfit to act with dignity and wisdom when serving our communities, and to fully collaborate with the authorities.
“You are the heroes of your respective communities who have dedicated yourselves to protecting and safeguarding everyone’s safety. But you must also keep in mind that you are deployed in a supportive role to assist and work with the police and the armed forces. In addition to your other contributions, I believe you will be invaluable in sourcing intelligence regarding what is happening on the ground in your communities. Without that knowledge, it will be impossible to achieve success in stopping the carnage.
“I would also like to call on the conventional security organisations to provide the best of their support and cooperation for the success of this initiative. The guards are meant to support you in achieving your primary responsibility of protecting
lives and property. You are, therefore, implored to make use of this organization and engage them in your various security operations, such as operatives intelligence gathering and response to attacks, among others”, General Gusau has advocated.
He further called on the State Government to utilize the expected State Security Trust Fund which is under plan to be established, whose Board of Trustees it plans to inaugurate soon, to for the sake of sustenance, to solely use for operational purposes as well as provision of equipment and the welfare of operatives.
The General also urged traditional and religious leaders to pay their contributions for their roles as stakeholders on security can not be overstated, adding that, “without your unreserved cooperation, the success would remain hard to achieve”.