15/07/2026
GOVERNOR RADDA AND THE SECURITY SITUATION IN KATSINA STATE
By Kabir Ahmed S-Kuka
Background: How Banditry Entered Katsina
The root of the banditry crisis in Katsina State, often blamed on cattle rustlers of Fulani origin, can be traced to an influx of displaced persons.
If we look back at the early stages of insecurity in Katsina, what was then reported as a problem of Zamfara and Sokoto States found its way into Katsina through refugees. During the administration of Governor Aminu Bello Masari, displaced persons entered Katsina from Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State, which shares a border with Katsina.
They settled in areas such as Hayin Alhaji and Bedi in Yankuzo, Baurawa, Takare, Salihawa, Danmarke Z, Runji, Zangon Pauwa, Dansabau and other communities in Kankara Local Government.
At that time, figures such as Buharin Daji and one Dan Bannawa Mai Darek - believed to be the first bandit to grant an interview on social media claiming to possess an anti-aircraft gun - were active. They collaborated in acts of terror, mainly killings and cattle rustling. Kidnapping for ransom had not yet become prevalent.
According to our investigation, the arrival of these displaced persons was the entry point for bandits into Katsina.
Sources disclosed that when the displaced persons arrived in the Kankara area, the Katsina State Government under Governor Masari and prominent businessman Alhaji Dahiru Mangal provided them with food, blankets and other relief materials. Unknowingly, among the displaced persons were criminals who had disguised themselves to conduct surveillance. This marked the beginning of banditry in the state. While farmer-herder clashes were an old, annual occurrence, this new dimension was different.
The problem gradually spread, especially from the Kankara axis. As it escalated and with the Federal Government appearing to treat it as less critical than the Boko Haram insurgency, the Masari administration sought to negotiate with the armed groups.
How Two times Peace Deals Were Done
The Katsina State Government negotiated with bandits twice, but both efforts eventually collapsed.
The first peace deal under Governor Masari was held in Kankara. All aggrieved parties were invited. The bandits presented Buharin Daji as their representative, even though he was not an indigene of Katsina State, because they were all engaged in the same activity. The meeting was held on 15th January, 2017 in Dansadau.
During that deal, some bandits surrendered their weapons, which were later destroyed at the Polo Ground in Katsina after being inspected at the Army Barracks in Katsina.
The second deal was held in Lambar Rimi, on the border between Batsari and Zamfara. In a bid to ensure lasting peace, Governor Masari's efforts went beyond entering forests to dialogue with bandits and procuring armoured vehicles for security agents; it extended to engaging the neighbouring Republic of Niger, specifically Maradi Region, after observing that some cattle owners came from that axis. Like the first, the second peace accord also failed to yield lasting results.
The Worst Attacks
Among the numerous attacks carried out by bandits, a few stood out for their brutality. The first was in Yar Gamji village in Batsari Local Government, where more than ten farmers were slaughtered.
The second was the attack on Kadisau in Faskari Local Government. According to one of the attackers who spoke to journalists at the Katsina State Police Headquarters, the attack was organized by Adamu Aleru. About 450 motorcycles were used, each carrying three persons. Following that attack, the Katsina Police Command placed a bounty for information leading to the arrest of Adamu Aleru, who claimed he launched the attack to secure the release of his son who had been arrested.
Another horrific incident occurred in Tsauwa village, also in Batsari LGA, on 5th July, 2021. More than half of the village was burnt down. Victims were burnt beyond recognition. Four deaths were particularly disturbing: a pregnant woman, a nursing mother who had covered her children with her wrapper, children hidden inside a granary for safety, and an ailing man over 70 years old with the boy caring for him, all were burnt to ashes.
High-Profile Kidnappings
Our investigation by FRESH MEDIA GARDEN identified several kidnappings that shocked the public.
The most prominent was the abduction of nearly 400 students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, on 11th December, 2020. The attack was led by a bandit leader, Auwalu Daudawa. The students were released on 18th December after prolonged negotiations. Daudawa himself was killed in April 2021 during a clash among rival bandit groups after he allegedly abandoned the peace deal and stole cattle belonging to another group that later killed him - a fate similar to Buharin Daji.
The second notable case was the kidnap of Governor Masari's mother-in-law while he was in office. The operation was led by a youth known as Yalo, an indigene of Katsina town who became an informant for the forest Fulanis. After his arrest, he confessed at the Police Headquarters that he received N1.5 million out of the N30 million allegedly paid as ransom. The victim later regained her freedom.
The third was the abduction of Governor Dikko Umar Radda's brother, who is the Magajin Garin Radda. The most recent was the kidnap of late retired Major General Rabe, who died in the hands of his abductors.
Radda's Approach: No Negotiation With Bandits
Upon assuming office, Governor Malam Dikko Umar Radda made his position clear: his administration will not negotiate with bandits.
He stated that "there is no reason to negotiate with someone who does not keep trust. However, government will accept anyone who genuinely repents and embraces peace on his own volition", said Radda.
The declaration surprised many, given the failure of previous negotiations by his predecessors. But Radda came out directly to confront the bandits rather than seek reconciliation.
Establishment of Community Watch Corps (CWC)
Through strategic thinking and with divine help, Governor Radda introduced a new approach. His major initiative was the establishment of the Community Watch Corps (CWC). Personnel of the CWC were recruited from the local government areas most affected by insecurity and given special training. Governor Radda procured vehicles and motorcycles for the Corps. After training and graduation, each operative was deployed to his own community to protect his people.
This strategy has significantly reduced attacks. It is estimated to have curtailed insecurity by 70 to 80 percent. To date, the operatives continue to record successes despite facing challenges. According to reports, their monthly allowance was initially N30,000 and has now been increased to N50,000.
One of the challenges they face is informants who leak information to bandits. When such informants are arrested, their relatives often protest and even mount pressure for their release. The training and equipping of the CWC has been done twice, and successes are still being recorded.
Support For Victims
Even before becoming Governor, when he was Director General of SMEDAN, Malam Dikko Radda was the first top official from Katsina to visit victims of bandit attacks in Batsari. He provided bags of food items and cash to sympathize with them. The items were delivered through the Sarkin Ruma, the District Head of Batsari.
As Governor, Radda created the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs to tackle insecurity. He also established a special office under the Special Adviser on Victims of Banditry to provide support.
In almost all affected LGAs, victims who sustained injuries, suffered severe losses, or families of those killed who left orphans behind have been supported to cushion their pains. Even security operatives, including soldiers who died or were injured, and their families, have received support or sponsorship from Governor Radda. He also took responsibility for the medical bills of all those injured by insecurity until full recovery.
The Governor also personally visits communities attacked by bandits to commiserate, despite his busy schedule. Where he cannot go himself, he sends a delegation.
Success or Failure?
The first indicator of success under Governor Radda is that roads abandoned for years due to insecurity are now being used safely. For example, the Katsina-Jibiya road, Katsina-Batsari road and other routes that were deserted from early morning and evening are now in use. At the height of the crisis, transport unions banned their members from plying those roads at certain times. Due to the Governor's determination, those major challenges have now become history. Markets, road travel and other activities thought to be permanently lost have resumed.
With no major breakthrough and with prayers, the bandits themselves have now sought peace with communities to end hostilities. The initiative started from Batsari Local Government without government involvement. One Abu Radde led the peace move from the bandits' side, as confirmed by a resident, Alhaji Hassan Dogon Faci, and peace has since prevailed in the area.
After Batsari, peace was initiated in Jibiya where one Abdu Lankai represented the bandits, and according to Alhaji Surajo, Chairman of the Jibiya Security Committee, no major problem has been recorded since, in an interview with our correspondent. Similarly, in Danmusa LGA, Alhaji Umar, popularly known as Minori, led the peace effort, and peace is also being enjoyed there as confirmed by the Chairman of the Security Committee, Alhaji Salisu Buhari.
Our investigation confirms that about 90 percent of communities whose residents fled have returned home and resumed farming. For instance, communities such as Birnin Kogo, Yankara and others in Faskari have resumed peaceful coexistence.
"If we are to be sincere to ourselves, we will say this is no small achievement brought by Allah during Governor Radda's tenure," said Alhaji Rabi'u.
Challenges Remain
Despite these successes achieved with relative ease, there are still challenges. Governor Radda himself has expressed concern that some people are sabotaging his administration's security efforts. Wherever success is recorded, some elements attempt to undermine it. Such was the case in Jibiya which led to loss of lives.
Currently, the Matazu-Musawa axis has become a death trap due to the atrocities of a bandit known as Kacalla Maha, who abducted the late Major General Rabe who died in his custody.
"I don't blame Governor Radda because he does not control any security agency except the CWC he established. Everyone knows where the problem lies. We ourselves are also to blame because we see informants among us but cannot expose them out of fear, forgetting that it is that information they use to kill us," said Abdulkarim Kabir.
Another resident who pleaded anonymity said the Governor's fault, in his view, was disarming local vigilantes who were defending themselves while leaving bandits armed.
"An example is Sayaya. If people were allowed to keep their self-defense weapons, this boy wouldn't have terrorized the area. So the Governor should order that wherever people's defensive weapons were collected, they should be returned if the matter is not yet over. But you disarm the defender and leave the attacker armed, no amount of justification will end the problem. The weak are always the victims," he said.
