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By Chukwuma Umeorah
The Nigeria Police Force in Katsina State has attributed a decline in bandit attacks over the past two years to joint security operations involving multiple agencies and support from the state government, while calling on residents to provide timely intelligence to sustain the gains.
Representing the Commissioner of Police, DCP Aminu Gusau said joint patrols involving the police and other security agencies had contributed to improved security in parts of the state.
Gusau made this claim on Thursday at News Central security town hall meeting in Katsina, where security agencies, traditional rulers, community leaders and residents discussed strategies to strengthen collaboration against banditry.
“The state government supported us a lot, including with logistics; we have deployed security around the street. We patrolled alongside DSS; this has reduced attacks over the last 2 years. Those we were able to arrest, we do and hand them over to the judiciary.”
He urged residents to continue supporting security agencies with credible and timely information to aid ongoing operations.
Also speaking, Lt. Col. Okorie Obasi, representing the Commander of the 17 Brigade, Nigerian Army, said security personnel had been deployed to protect candidates writing the ongoing National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations.
He appealed for public cooperation, saying: “For the ongoing NECO exam, we have deployed enough security for the safety of the children. Encourage us by giving us accurate information on time and your absolute support, and by encouraging us.”
Participants at the meeting stressed the need for stronger collaboration between security agencies and local communities through improved intelligence gathering, early warning mechanisms and closer engagement with residents.
Community leaders and local vigilante representatives said grassroots intelligence remains critical to preventing attacks and protecting lives, urging authorities to strengthen coordination with community-based security structures while upholding the rule of law.
The discussion also featured excerpts from Bandits of Katsina State, an investigative documentary highlighting the impact of armed violence on communities in northern Nigeria, which served as a basis for deliberations on the security situation.
Security expert, Bala Husani argued that insurgency has assumed commercial and political dimensions, stating: “the government is practicing Corporate entrepreneurship, putting effort in because there is gain to be made. The government is benefiting from this; they don’t want to stop.”
Meanwhile, the District Head of Wagini, His Royal Highness Diko Ruma, attributed part of the insecurity challenge to declining parental responsibility, saying better upbringing of children would contribute to improved security in the future.
