President Bola Tinubu has approved the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards in Katsina State as part of efforts to tackle insecurity and strengthen security operations across the state.
Governor Dikko Radda disclosed this on Tuesday while addressing journalists after a meeting with Islamic clerics and other stakeholders at the Government House in Katsina.
The meeting focused on community-based approaches to addressing the persistent challenges of banditry and kidnapping in the state.
According to Radda, the engagement with religious leaders was aimed at understanding the root causes of insecurity and seeking sustainable solutions beyond conventional military operations.
“The purpose of this meeting was to hear directly from Islamic clerics, understand their perspectives on the current security challenges, and seek their advice on the way forward,” the governor said.
He stressed that security agencies alone could not solve the crisis, noting that communities and individuals have critical roles to play in combating criminal activities.
“This problem cannot be solved only through the efforts of security agencies. Individuals and communities have very important roles to play in curbing banditry and kidnapping,” he added.
Radda revealed that investigations had shown that some members of local communities aid criminal groups through intelligence sharing and the sale of stolen livestock.
“Most of their supply chains, information networks and even the sale of stolen animals involve people living among us. This is why there is a need to sensitise the entire community so that everyone plays their part,” he said.
The governor noted that clerics remain influential in shaping societal values and were consulted as part of efforts to achieve lasting peace.
He also highlighted several measures already introduced by his administration, including the ban on motorcycle operations in some affected local government areas such as Musawa and Matazu, as well as restrictions on Point-of-Sale (POS) services and informal charging points allegedly used to facilitate criminal activities.
Radda further disclosed that the sale of petroleum products had been restricted in parts of the state to weaken the operational capacity of armed groups.
“These measures were introduced after consultations with community leaders from affected areas, and we will continue to engage all stakeholders to ensure peace and stability,” he said.
Speaking on the approval granted by President Tinubu, the governor expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for supporting the state’s security efforts.
“I want to appreciate Mr President for approving our request to recruit 1,000 young, able-bodied men and women as forest guards. They will work alongside conventional security agencies and community watch groups,” Radda stated.
He said the recruits would be adequately equipped and deployed to secure forested and remote communities that are often vulnerable to attacks.
The governor also commended the Federal Government for increasing the deployment of personnel from the military, the police and the Department of State Services, DSS, to Katsina State.
“The level of deployment we have seen from the military, police and DSS is highly encouraging. This is a coordinated effort we deeply appreciate,” he said.
Radda urged residents to cooperate with security agencies, insisting that security remains a collective responsibility.
“Security is a collective responsibility. We urge all citizens to cooperate with authorities and contribute to peace in our communities,” he added.
