Katsina gov, DSS DG seek collaboration to tackle N’West insecurity

August 14, 2026 1:30 am

Governor of Katsina State, Dikko Umaru Radda.

Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, and the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Oluwatosin Ajayi, have called for stronger collaboration among security agencies, government institutions and communities to tackle terrorism, banditry and other criminal activities threatening the North-West.

Radda and Ajayi made the call on Thursday in Katsina at the second North-West Zonal Conference of State Directors of Security, organised by the DSS with the theme, “Unite Against Terror.”

Declaring the event open, the governor, represented by his deputy, Malam Faruk Jobe, said the region’s security challenges required a coordinated response from government, security agencies and communities.

Radda said Katsina had seen notable improvement in security through combined kinetic and non-kinetic measures.

“When we came on board, about 26 local government areas were under constant attack,” he said.

He added that the state had moved from persistent killings and kidnappings to improved stability due to stronger collaboration with security agencies.

Radda said his administration invested heavily in non-kinetic measures to address root causes of insecurity.

He noted that victims of banditry received free medical care, while agriculture was prioritised to strengthen livelihoods.

Radda urged stronger community intelligence and responsible media reporting, warning against sensationalism that could aid criminals.

“I would encourage the participants to ensure that we get feedback from the community on how to improve our own situation.

“Part of the measures that we should do, in my own opinion, is that we should embark on propaganda. You know, propaganda is also a form of war.

“Why is it so? Because the morale of our people is very low when it comes to the issue of the way we say so many things about the activities of the bandits.

“Sometimes, we overstate their approach, their capacity, or whatnot. So I think we should do it the other way around.

“Security forces need to be encouraged. Their morale needs to be boosted. Not only in terms of elimination, but in terms of the way we approach the issue of insecurity.

“Finally, I want to call on the media to support our security initiative. Because today, everybody is a journalist. It is not everything that we need to say; there are things that when we say them, instead of sending the right signal, we end up creating other issues.

“So this conference should look at this, and come up with a way of addressing this issue,” he said.

Ajayi, on his part, also called for a united and coordinated approach among security agencies, government institutions and communities to tackle terrorism, banditry and other criminal activities threatening the North-West.

Represented by the chairman, North-West Forum of State Directors of Security and Kano State Director of Security, Husseini Abubakar, the DSS boss said the conference was an opportunity for security stakeholders to review the evolving security situation in the region, share operational experiences and develop effective strategies to contain banditry and terrorism.

According to him, “This edition of the Northwest conference gives us another opportunity to compare notes, share experiences, assess evolving and endemic security challenges, particularly the threat of banditry, and devise appropriate containment strategies in the effort to secure our communities.”

Ajayi said the DSS was strengthening the tactical capabilities of its personnel to enable the Service to respond more effectively to emerging security threats.

He also commended the existing synergy among security and law enforcement agencies in the region, describing such collaboration as essential to securing communities.

“As we go into the technical session, I am optimistic, and we should bear in mind that the war against terror is a task that must be accomplished,” he said.

In his welcome address, the Katsina State Director of Security, Alhassan Iliyasu, said the conference was aimed at strengthening intelligence-led operations and developing a common regional strategy against insecurity.

He said the theme, “Unite Against Terror,” reflected the need for collective action, stressing that the responsibility for securing communities could not be left solely to security agencies.

“By uniting against terror, it involves everybody, not only the security agencies, but the entire society,” Iliyasu said.

According to him, Katsina State had adopted a community-based security approach, bringing together government, security agencies, community watch structures and vigilante groups in responding to threats.

He said the approach had strengthened cooperation among the various actors and improved the state’s response to security challenges.

“If you observe in Katsina State, that theme, ‘Unite Against Terror,’ is no longer news because we live as one family.

“At any point in time, however late the day is, whoever you call among the action agencies, we are responding,” he said.

Iliyasu said the conference would allow participants to critically examine the security challenges confronting the North-West, review existing countermeasures and develop renewed strategies against banditry and related criminal activities.

He disclosed that a communique would be produced at the end of the deliberations to serve as a roadmap for coordinated security responses across the region.

“At the end of the day, after brainstorming, we will come up with a communique, and the communique will be like a roadmap that will be used or considered for effective countermeasures against banditry and related criminal organisations or criminal activities in the entire North-West,” he said.

The Katsina State Director of Security also called for greater community participation in intelligence gathering, urging residents to report suspicious activities to relevant authorities.

“Nobody should be left behind, because it is our civic responsibility to see something and say something, to hear something and review and report,” he said.

Earlier in their goodwill messages, Commander, 17 Brigade Nigerian Army, Katsina, Brig Gen Ishaya Ibrahim and the Joint Force Air Component Commander, Operation Fansan Yanma Sector 2, who doubles as the Commander 213 Forward Operating Base, Nigerian Air Force Katsina, Air Commodore Chukwuedo Illoh, both stressed the need for intelligence sharing, inter-agency cooperation and joint operations.

They also called for greater focus on non-kinetic strategies in addressing socioeconomic drivers of insecurity.

The conference is taking place against the backdrop of persistent security challenges across parts of the North-West, including banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and other forms of organised crime.

The stakeholders are expected to deliberate on intelligence sharing, inter-agency cooperation, community engagement and other measures to strengthen the collective capacity of the seven states to confront security threats.

The outcome of the conference, including its proposed recommendations and communique, is expected to provide a coordinated framework for strengthening counter-terrorism and anti-banditry operations across the North-West.

The conference brought together state directors of security from Katsina, Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara, alongside heads of security agencies, traditional rulers, government officials and retired security personnel.

Esha Aliku

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