Katsina State has recorded what the state government described as major improvements in security, following increased cooperation between conventional security agencies and community-based security structures.
Governor Dikko Radda disclosed this on Thursday while declaring open the Second Quarter 2026 North-West Zonal Conference of State Directors of Security at the Katsina State Command of the Department of State Services (DSS).
The conference, themed “Unite Against Terror”, brought together security chiefs and other stakeholders from across the North-West to review emerging threats and strengthen strategies against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities.
Represented by his deputy, Faruk Jobe, Radda said the state had combined kinetic security operations with non-kinetic measures, including investments in education, agriculture and employment, to address socio-economic factors contributing to insecurity.
Jobe said that when the administration assumed office in 2023, at least 26 local government areas in Katsina were experiencing persistent attacks by bandits, alongside rising cases of kidnapping and ransom demands.
He attributed the improvement to stronger collaboration among security agencies and the deployment of community-based security initiatives, including the state’s Community Watch Corps.
“Our problem in the Northwest zone is common, and our approach should be common,” Jobe said, stressing the need for synergy among security forces.
He also said the state had reviewed the salaries of ward and village heads, while district heads had been elevated to remuneration equivalent to Grade Level 16 in the civil service.
Jobe urged stakeholders to improve the morale of security personnel, arguing that motivated officers would be better positioned to tackle insecurity.
He also called on the media to support counter-terrorism efforts responsibly, warning against the indiscriminate publication of sensitive security information amid the growing influence of citizen journalism.
The Katsina State Director of Security, Alhassan Iliasu, said the conference would help intelligence-led organisations review security challenges and develop renewed counter-terrorism strategies.
He said the fight against terrorism required the participation of the wider society and noted that Katsina’s community-based security initiatives had contributed to the reduction of insecurity.
The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Nasiru Danmusa, called for homegrown security solutions tailored to the circumstances of individual regions.
He noted that insecurity in the North-East, where insurgency is largely driven by ideology, differs from the North-West, where banditry, kidnapping and cattle rustling are more closely linked to socio-economic and political factors.
Police, military strengthen intelligence sharing
Katsina State Commissioner of Police, Aliyu Fage, disclosed that the police and DSS had maintained regular intelligence-sharing arrangements since he assumed office.
He said the agencies exchange intelligence and security information for several hours each day, helping to improve their ability to respond to emerging threats.
The Commander of 17 Brigade, Katsina, Brigadier General Ishaya Ibrahim, and the Commander of the 213 Forward Operating Base of the Nigerian Air Force also reaffirmed their commitment to protecting lives and property.
They called for stronger partnerships and timely interventions among security formations, stressing that security agencies must work as partners to maximise the impact of their operations.
Traditional rulers at the conference also backed stronger action against informants and collaborators accused of providing intelligence and logistical support to bandits and terrorists.
The Chairman of the Northwest Forum of State Directors of Security, Hussaini Abubakar, said the conference would allow security chiefs to exchange experiences and strengthen existing cooperation.
A communique from the conference is expected to provide a roadmap for security agencies in tackling terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and related criminal activities across the North-West.
