By Abubakar Yunusa
The National Chairman of the Civilian Joint Tasks Force Nigeria (CJTF), Prof. Muhammed Kailani, urged the federal government to equip the mobile police force to take over security on roads and communities.
Prof. Kailani made the call at the launch of the CJTFN operational headquarters in Abuja.
He suggested that soldiers focus on protecting Nigeria’s territorial integrity by guarding the seas, air, and land borders.
“We’re calling on the federal government to empower the mobile police to handle internal security because they are very capable,” he said.
“Let them be properly equipped just like they were in the sixties. They’ve always done a good job, so I don’t understand why they’ve been sidelined. The federal government needs to act quickly.”
Speaking about a recent abduction on the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, Prof. Kailami called on security agencies to apprehend the criminals as soon as possible.
He highlighted the growing insecurity in Nigeria, which is leading people to consider leaving the country.
Prof. Kailani also explained the formation of the CJTF in Kaduna. He acknowledged Borno State’s pioneering role in establishing a civilian JTF to fight Boko Haram.
“Here in Kaduna, we decided to form our own civilian JTF based on the UN’s community policing guidelines,” he said.
“In the past 16 years, with the police and soldiers being killed, and ordinary people being attacked in broad daylight, we felt the need to form a civilian JTF in collaboration with security agencies. And we’ve been very successful over the past 16 years.”
The Deputy Commissioner of Police representing the FCT Commissioner of Police, Zanna Madugu, emphasized that security is everyone’s responsibility.
He said, “We are always working together to keep Abuja safe. We appreciate the CJTF’s service and encourage them to continue their good work.”
