Governor Dikko Radda revealed this alarming information during a town hall meeting in Daura over the weekend, part of the event tagged ‘Public Engagement: 2025 Citizens’ Budget Participation Process.’
Radda pointed out that bandits and other criminals cannot operate effectively without the support or cooperation of some members of society. He emphasized that his administration is committed to working with the public and security forces to protect communities from bandits, kidnappers, and other criminals.
“We have initiated a plan to support any community willing to defend itself. We will provide them with the necessary training and resources to engage with criminals before security agents arrive,” the governor explained.
Radda also shared his experience of visiting Tsamiyar-jino, a remote village that took him two hours to reach by jeep. He explained that in such isolated areas, when bandits strike, security forces often take too long to respond. “By the time help arrives, the damage has already been done. People are killed, and others are kidnapped,” he lamented.
He noted that the security agencies are understaffed and cannot protect all areas alone. “I am deeply disturbed by the way we are dying in such humiliating circumstances. Our religious teachings assure us that those who die defending their families will enter paradise,” he said.
Radda expressed disbelief at the ease with which small groups of bandits overpower large communities. “You see five bandits attacking a community of 2,000 to 3,000 people, raping women, abducting others, with no one resisting. If 100 young men from that community confronted them, the bandits would not be able to fire more than a few rounds before being overpowered.”
He added that paying ransom to kidnappers does not guarantee safety. “In some cases, the bandits take the ransom and still kill the victim.”
The governor further lamented that some community leaders are now colluding with bandits for personal financial gain. “A representative of a village head accepted ₦700,000 from bandits, allowing them to enter his community, where they killed about 30 people,” Radda revealed.
He added that women and even a teacher have been arrested for acting as informants for the bandits. “Sadly, almost all segments of society are involved in this criminal activity,” he said.
In response to the security challenges, the Katsina State government has established a community watch corps to safeguard residents. “We have trained them, provided them with weapons, bulletproof vests, umbrellas, and three sets of uniforms, among other essential items,” Radda concluded.
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