By BANNERNEWS Reporter, Sokoto
The Sokoto State Government has graduated 1,550 operatives of the Sokoto State Marshals Agency (SOSMA) to strengthen security, environmental protection and public safety across the state’s 23 local government areas.
The graduation ceremony, held on Thursday, also marked the passing out of the agency’s first-ever batch of 70 female marshals. The operatives were trained in environmental protection, security and intelligence, traffic management, and the protection of public infrastructure.
Governor Ahmed Aliyu said the marshals would complement the work of conventional security agencies and the Sokoto State Community Guards Corps. He pledged to equip the operatives with vehicles, motorcycles and other logistics to enhance their operations across the state.
The governor, however, cautioned the new marshals against abusing their authority, urging them to uphold professionalism, respect the rights of citizens and discharge their duties with integrity. He also directed the commandant to deploy them strategically to security flashpoints, improve environmental sanitation, protect public assets and ease traffic congestion.
Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji, who attended as Special Guest of Honour, said the initiative would reinforce security efforts in Sokoto, while the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, described security as a collective responsibility and urged residents to continue supporting measures aimed at tackling insecurity.
The security consultant who supervised the training, retired Flight Lt. Shehu Ya’u, said the operatives underwent rigorous training to prepare them for their assignments. The ceremony was attended by former Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, Speaker of the Sokoto State House of Assembly, Tukur Bala Bodinga, lawmakers from Sokoto and Ekiti states, and other dignitaries, with awards presented to outstanding trainees.
