Katsina State Steps Up War Against Bandits with Major Security and Social Investment Initiatives.
By Bala Salihu Dawakin Kudu – Democracy Newsline Newspaper
September 29, 2025
In a bold and strategic move to strengthen the fight against banditry, the Katsina State Government has approved the purchase of 5,000 rounds of ammunition for the state’s Community Watch Corps, local vigilante groups, and hunters. This critical intervention is aimed at empowering frontline security personnel to better defend rural communities and restore peace across the state.
The approval came during the 14th State Executive Council meeting held on Wednesday under the leadership of the Executive Governor of Katsina State, Malam Dikko Umar Radda. According to a statement issued by the Governor’s spokesperson, Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed, the government is fully committed to restoring lasting peace and security in the region.
Addressing journalists shortly after the meeting, the State Commissioner for Information, Bala Zango, emphasized that the move is part of a broader effort to promote synergy between conventional security forces and community-based security groups in the war against terrorism and armed banditry.
“This initiative will strengthen collaboration between all security agencies and reinforce peaceful coexistence among residents, allowing them to live without fear of attack,” said Zango.
The executive council meeting also approved several landmark projects in transportation, education, public welfare, and economic empowerment, reflecting the Radda administration’s holistic development agenda.
The Commissioner for Works and Housing, Sani Ingawa, disclosed that the state government has approved the acquisition of mass transit buses to ease student transportation and reduce environmental pollution. Additionally, the council approved:
Construction of a dual carriage Western Bypass Road measuring 11.43 kilometers.
Completion of a 3-kilometer access road linking Daura and Katsina towns.
These infrastructural upgrades are aimed at decongesting traffic, improving regional connectivity, and stimulating economic activities.
In the education sector, Commissioner for Primary and Secondary Education, Zainab Musawa, revealed a sweeping plan to revamp dilapidated schools and enhance learning environments. This includes:
Installation of solar-powered boreholes, street lights, CCTV surveillance systems, and science and tech learning equipment in selected schools.
Provision of solar lighting and generators to special schools in the Radda area.
Declaration of a state of emergency on public schools, with immediate rehabilitation of 10 schools across 34 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the first phase.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hadiza Yar’adua, announced that the council has approved training support and empowerment packages for widows and other vulnerable women, especially those affected by bandit attacks. These support packages include vocational training and startup materials to help them regain financial independence and rebuild their lives.
In a related development, the Director General of the Katsina State Economic Development Agency (KASEDA), Aisha Malunfashi, unveiled a new initiative that will offer entrepreneurial training and soft loans to fresh graduates from Katsina State. The goal is to encourage them to launch small-scale businesses and contribute meaningfully to the state’s economy.
In a bid to enhance efficiency and transparency in governance, the council has also approved a restructuring of the state’s executive council sitting arrangement, allowing for improved coordination and execution of government responsibilities.
These collective steps, according to officials in the Radda administration, are in line with the governor’s bold vision of “building the future of Katsina”—a vision centered on security, education, youth development, women empowerment, and inclusive growth.
Katsina State is clearly on a transformative path under Governor Dikko Radda. From bolstering local security forces with ammunition to reforming education and empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs, the state government is laying a strong foundation for long-term peace, prosperity, and social cohesion.
As the threat of banditry continues to challenge northern Nigeria, Katsina’s integrated approach—combining security, infrastructure, education, and empowerment—offers a compelling model for other states in the region to follow.
