The Jaba Local Government Area Chairperson, Larai Sylvia Ishaku has recruited and inaugurated 166 volunteers into a Joint Task Force (JTF) in Kaduna State.
The volunteers, drawn from all 10 wards of the local government, were formally sworn in on Wednesday at the Jaba Local Government Secretariat. The ceremony was officiated by the Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa Gwabin (retd.), who was represented by his Senior Special Adviser, Mr. Musa Likita.
Likita hailed the initiative as “timely, thoughtful, and commendable,” acknowledging that while Jaba enjoys greater stability than many parts of Southern Kaduna, vigilance remains crucial. He stressed the importance of preparation in peaceful times, saying security and peace “must always be protected and safeguarded.”
He credited the recruitment to the chairperson’s leadership and community backing, calling it “a reflection of responsive, people-centred leadership.” According to Likita, “What the chairman has done, with the full support of the people of Jaba Local Government Area, is truly remarkable and deserves commendation.”
Addressing the new recruits directly, Likita praised their volunteer spirit as a “strong demonstration of commitment to community safety” and their “dedication to the security of their local government.”
He noted that their training, which began over a week earlier, demanded “discipline, sacrifice, and commitment,” describing it as no easy feat. He urged them to show “focus, endurance, and dedication,” assuring that “their sacrifices would not go unnoticed.”
Chairperson Ishaku described the occasion as “a defining moment in the history of Jaba Local Government,” embodying the people’s “collective resolve” to protect peace. She pointed to emerging threats in nearby areas and nationwide as reasons for action, declaring: “Peace must never be taken for granted. Security is not the duty of a few; it is the responsibility of all of us. Only by standing together can we protect lives, preserve property, and create the safe environment needed for growth and development.”
Ishaku explained that the JTF would collaborate with conventional security forces, traditional rulers, and community leaders to boost intelligence gathering, protect lives and property, and tackle illicit drug abuse by targeting dealers, barons, and users. “Today, you stand not only as a security outfit but as a beacon of hope for the people of Jaba, neighbouring communities, and surrounding local governments,” she stated.
She commended the volunteers’ “sacrifice, courage, and commitment to public service,” calling on them to perform their duties with “discipline, integrity, and dedication.”
The Wakilin Jaba, Elisha Musa, representing the Paramount Chief of the Ham people, His Highness Danladi Gyet Maude, voiced strong endorsement, describing the programme as “a pioneering and commendable gesture that would undoubtedly bring the lasting peace desired in Hamland.”
This community-led effort forms part of the Jaba Local Government administration’s wider strategy to solidify peace, enhance grassroots security, and block the infiltration of broader insecurity trends.
