Giwa LGA in Kaduna has commenced the payment of N10,000 special allowance to 250 ward heads and 260 vigilante members in the area.

According to the council chairman, Abubakar Lawal-Giwa, the gesture encourages them to monitor and respond to local security issues.

“It is part of the council’s efforts to carry the ward heads and vigilante members along to strengthen peace and stability in Giwa LGA,” the chairman added.

He said the ward heads and vigilante members have been playing pivotal roles in grassroots security and needed to be encouraged to do more.

The chairman urged them not to relent in collaborating with security operatives to fish out criminals in their midst to ensure a peaceful atmosphere in their localities.

Mr Lawal-Giwa explained that though the council has 600 ward heads, 250 were selected on a pilot basis, and others would be added later.

“It is our plan to extend the initiative to cover remaining ward heads in the LGA who were not captured in the pilot scheme and an upward review of the allowance.

“This initiative is coming after 260 personnel of Kaduna Vigilance Service were earlier engaged by the council to boost the security of the area,’’ he said.

Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Rilwanu Sa’idu, the ward head of Gangara, applauded the gesture and pledged their commitment to promoting peace and stability in the local government area.

Giwa LGA is one of the areas hard-hit by bandits and kidnappers in Kaduna.

Recently, the people of the Tunburku community staged a peaceful protest at the palace of the Emir of Zazzau over incessant kidnapping and banditry.

(NAN)