By Ada Okafor
In a bid to curb the incessant banditry activities in southern kaduna, Operation Safe Haven (OSF) Wednesday graduated 98 youths trained on surveillance and information gathering. The graduation ceremony which took place at Headquarters Sector 7 Kafanchan saw youths selected from all the communities and ethnic groups in southern Kaduna passed out in a colourful graduation ceremony, according to a statement by Major Ishaku Takwa,Military Information Officer OPSH.
Speaking to the graduands, the Commander OSH, Maj-Gen. Ibrahim Ali, charged the youths to distance themselves from sentiment and discharge their duty without fear or favour. He stressed that the essence of the training is to ensure that the communities are protected against enemies of peace. General Ali also warned the youths not to allow themselves to be used as political thugs by some persons to achieve their selfish goals.
Speaking earlier, the Commander Sector 7, Colonel Timothy Opurum, noted that the training of the youths was necessary considering the importance of peace to development. He revealed that the team of the Joint Civilian Task Force comprised of youths selected from 7 major ethnic groups in Kafanchan, Kauru, Kaura and Jama’a Local Government Areas of southern part of Kaduna State.
Col. Timothy stated that the trained youths would be deployed to various communities alongside security agencies. He added that presence of the Civilian Joint Task Force will aid the security agencies to fish out bad eggs who connive with bandits to perpetrate evil in the communities.
Highlight of the graduation ceremony was a match past parade and light combat demonstration by the graduands to the admiration of the Commander OSH.
