From Agaju Madugba, Katsina
Even in the face of spiraling insecurity reports occasioned by murderous activities of terrorist-bandits in Katsina, Governor Dikko Umaru Radda has reassured members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) serving in the state of their safety.
Bandits have continued to unleash terror on communities in parts of the state especially in 23 out of the 34 Local Government Areas designated as “frontline.”
In the latest incident on Tuesday, bandits stormed the university town of Dutsinma where they killed a lecturer from the Department of Agriculture of the Federal University there and abducted some other residents.
But speaking on Tuesday in a message he sent during the commencement of orientation programme for the 2024 Batch ‘B’ Stream One of members of the NYSC, Radda said that, “we in Katsina State are NYSC-friendly and I want to assure you of a conducive atmosphere throughout your service year.
According the Governor who was represented at the ceremony by his Special Adviser on Students’ Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Nuhu, “today will go down in history as a landmark event, particularly with the commencement of your individual and collective resolve to discharge an important obligation concerning the service to our dear nation.
“On behalf of the government and good people of Katsina State, I welcome you warmly and urge you to feel at home.
“I have no doubt that you will find the state a home away from home, as our people are generally receptive and accommodating.”
He urged the corps members to embrace the culture and tradition of the people as well as paramilitary training at the camp for their personal growth.
According to the Governor, “they were designed to adequately prepare your body and minds for effective and productive participation in the on-going efforts of accelerating national development.
“I wish to place on record our appreciation of the contributions of corps members in the development of the state, especially in the areas of Community Development Service (CDS) projects and augmenting the manpower needed in our schools and health care sectors.
“I challenge you therefore to live up to the standard already set by your predecessors to the progress and development of Katsina and the nation in general.
“It is my firm belief that the orientation programme will equip you for this great task.”
The NYSC State Coordinator, Hajiya Aisha Mohammed, said a total of 1,140 corps members were registered for the programme.
The fragile security situation in Katsina and the other six states in the North-West of Nigeria has since attracted the attention of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) which resulted in a two-day security summit in Katsina organized by the UN agency in collaboration with the governors in zone.