The Zamfara Government has given approval to communities in the state to defend themselves against kidnapping, banditry and other criminal attacks.

The State Governor, Alhaji Bello Matawalle gave the approval at a special prayer session to mark his two years in office.

The governor noted that the insecurity in the state had defied all the different methods employed to tackle it, saying that together with other northern governors they had now agreed to engage the services of locals to complement security operatives in the fight against banditry and other criminal activities in the zone.

He said the state would collaborate with security agencies and traditional leaders to ensure that credible persons were recruited from the communities.

Speaking earlier, a scholar, Dr  Jabir Maihula urged youths to be more responsible and think of their nation first, saying that only if the younger generation were committed to nation building, peace and security were achievable.

He said it was the role of parents and leaders to raise responsible children, through education and moral guidance that would enable them become economically productive.

Maihula said government should also create awareness and an enabling environment for the nation’s teeming youths to be economically self reliant.

NAN