*personnel that are killed in action get N2m
By; ACHADU GABRIEL, Kaduna
Security Adviser to Governor Ahmed Nasir el-Rufai and Coordinator of ‘Operation Yaki’ retired Col. Yakubu Yusuf Soldier, has said that they have over 3,000 security personnel under the state’s ponsored security outfit popularly known as Operation Yaki.
Yusuf Soldier also disclosed that the state government is responsible for the payment of allowances of security and fueling of the 110 operational vehicles provided them.
These laudable provisions are different from the N2 million benefits attached, in case of any loss of life of officers in active service under the outfit, against the initial N100, 000.
Making the disclosure in an interview, Yusuf Soldier explained that Kaduna State Government under Governor el-Rufai, ensured that all the necessary security arrangements were put in place immediately on assumption into office in May, 2015.
He said the whole essence was to combat the spate of insecurity, particularly kidnaping, cattle rustling, robbery and other criminal activities in and around the state.
The retired Colonel also explained some of the challenges encountered that are inevitable the world over with regards to security of lives and property.
“The challenges are enormous but by the special grace of God, we are scaling through and more so, when you are working under someone, a governor, who is very courageous and humble, like Malarm Nasir el-Rufai, who wants to achieve results.
“People are now seeing that things that have not been done in Kaduna for the past 30 years are being actualized by him, most especially the issue of security.
“When we came on board we had a lot of issues and challenges as far as security is concern most especially the issue of cattle rustling, kidnapping, armed robbery on our highways, take for example, Kaduna-Abuja, Kaduna-Zaria, Pambegua – Saminaka, Birinin Gwari highway, were having lots of challenges when we came on board. But with the efforts of el-Rufai things changed.
“For instance I met an operation Yaki that was not functional. We had only 27 vehicles, I wrote a memo to el-Rufai and within a month, he provided a total of 110 brand new Operation Yaki cars with additional three ambulances.
“This is the first time that we were given over 120 vehicles in ones single time. By the provision of the additional vehicles, we are motivated. And insurance cover to also motivate the person doing the job was that he increased the death benefit of officers who died in active service to N2 million from N100,000, that was paid to the officer who lost his life before.
“We now pay N2million cash to any officer who loses his life in active service of operation Yaki,” he stressed.
Yusuf Soldier also stated that “With my experience as a retired senior military officer, coupled with my experience as former elected member Kaduna State House of Assembly from Zaria for four years, I have been able to steer the outfit,”he explained.
He disclosed that in Birnin Gwari, especially Kamuku Forest and another area in Giwa Local Government came with challenges.
“These were no go areas in those days, people could not go to farm. They called it farming haram in these two areas. But when we came on board, we introduced an operation called Operation ‘Sharan Daji’, and flushed out all the bandits.
“People in the areas are happy and are doing their normal business. Again in the town, we discovered that there were some boys called Sara-Suka, terrorising areas like Ugwan Rimi, Rigasa, Tudun Wada, Hayin Banki and Kawo. We also crushed all those boys, and Kaduna centre became very safe and the roads, very safe.
“We dominated Kaduna – Abuja high way. Not quite long, about last two weeks, we had issues on that road. In his efforts at ensuring that Kaduna is safe, el-Rufai liaised with IGP with additional vehicles released from Abuja, over 100, and over 1,200 police personnel now deployed them in Kaduna.
“Just about three days ago, we arrested about six notorious kidnappers. They are now in our custody and are helping us in revealing information about their accomplice,” he explained.
