Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, has pledged increased support for local communities to assist security agents in combating attacks by bandits, kidnappers, and other criminals. This announcement was made during a Public Engagement and the launch of the 2025 Citizens’ Budget Participation Process and Community Development Programme in Katsina on Friday.
Governor Radda highlighted the initiative aimed at empowering communities to self-defend before security forces arrive. He emphasized the need for communities to be proactive in their own security, stating, “We have come up with an initiative that for any community ready to depend on itself, we will provide the necessary support and training to engage criminals before the arrival of security agents.”
Radda shared his experience visiting Tsamiyar-jino, a remote village that took him two hours to reach by Jeep from the main road. He noted the challenges faced by communities in remote areas, where it can take hours for security forces to respond to distress calls. “If bandits attack such areas, from the time you inform the security, it will take them over two hours before they can respond to the distress call,” Radda explained. “By then, whatever is going to happen will have happened – they will have killed people and kidnapped others.”
The governor expressed frustration with the current security situation, citing a shortage of security agents and inadequate response to attacks. He criticized the lack of resistance from communities, saying, “We were told that anyone who died in defense of his family will enter Paradise. You see five criminals attacking a community of 2,000 to 3,000 people, rape daughters, women, and abduct others without any confrontation from the people of that community.”
Radda revealed instances of collusion between local officials and bandits, citing a case where a village head’s representative accepted N700,000 from bandits, allowing them to enter the area and kill approximately 30 people. “There were women arrested, a teacher serving as their informant. Almost all segments of people were involved in this act,” he said.
To enhance community security, Radda announced the formation of a Community Security Watch Corps, comprising trained youths from frontline local governments. The state government has provided these volunteers with rifles, bulletproof vests, uniforms, and other essential equipment. Additionally, 700 motorcycles, 65 Hilux vehicles, and 10 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) have been procured, with funds allocated for fuel and maintenance.
Radda also noted the acquisition of advanced surveillance gadgets, including 5G technology, to bolster security efforts. He urged residents to actively provide information to security agents to improve safety and security in their communities.
In closing, the governor reiterated the importance of community cooperation in the fight against crime, stressing the need for collective action to address the security challenges facing Katsina State.
