Katsina State has recorded a remarkable 70 per cent reduction in banditry, kidnapping, and cattle rustling, the state government announced yesterday.
Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, said the announcement followed a high-level security and governance meeting, during which the State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr. Nasir Mu’azu, briefed residents on recent developments.
Dr. Mu’azu attributed the decline in criminal activities to a comprehensive community policing strategy, combined with targeted offensive operations against bandits.
He said, “The well-designed community policing approach, coupled with intermittent offensive operations against bandits and their enclaves, has forced many criminal groups to engage community leaders in seeking peace accords.”
Among the bandit leaders reportedly willing to surrender are Audu Lankai and his group from Jibia LGA; Abu Radde and associates from Batsari; Ruga Kachalla and his group from Safana LGA; Ummaru Manore and others from Danmusa LGA; Sani Muhidingi and his group from Kurfi LGA; and Wada and his group from Musawa LGA.
Negotiations are ongoing with community leaders in Sabuwa, Faskari, and Kankara LGAs to secure similar peace agreements, the commissioner said.
He added that 143 kidnap victims have been rescued from high-risk areas, including 67 from Sayaya in Matazu LGA and 76 from Gidan Mantau in Malumfashi LGA.
Several bandit enclaves have been destroyed, forcing criminals to retreat to the fringes of forests in neighbouring Zamfara and Kaduna states, Dr. Mu’azu said.
The commissioner noted that improved security has allowed the reopening of major roads previously considered unsafe. These include Katsina–Jibia, Katsina–Batsari, Yantumaki–Danmusa, Danmusa–Musawa, Dutsinma–Mararabar Kankara, Charanchi–Musawa, Safana–Batsari, Runka–Danmusa, and Jibia–Batsari routes.
He also commended local communities for establishing consultation, monitoring, and evaluation committees to hold daily discussions on emerging issues and conduct monthly progress reviews.