Stakeholders from the North-West region of Nigeria have strongly recommended that other states in the region adopt the community policing model established by Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, to combat the pervasive insecurity in the area. This recommendation was made during a press conference in Abuja by the General Secretary of Arewa New Frontiers, Mohammed Ibn Abdulsalam, marking the first anniversary of the Katsina Community Watch Corps.
The Katsina Community Watch Corps has been hailed as a success story in tackling insecurity. Since its establishment, the corps has neutralized notorious terrorist leader Sani Waka Burki and his followers who were terrorizing Safana and Batsari Local Government Areas. The corps also intercepted a commercial vehicle carrying a cache of ammunition in Batsari, among other significant achievements.
Governor Radda’s initiative has been praised for its proactive approach to security. The governor has invested heavily in security infrastructure, including the procurement of 10 armoured personnel carriers, 61 branded Hilux vehicles, 700 motorcycles, and advanced surveillance equipment worth over N10 billion. This investment has transformed the security architecture from a reactive to a proactive model, significantly improving response times and coordination among security agencies.
The Joint Security Operations Communications Centre, established by Governor Radda, has enhanced intelligence gathering and response capabilities, enabling the prevention of attacks before they occur. As a result, the number of local government areas under severe security threat has decreased from 22 to three. Markets are reopening, farmers are returning to their fields, and children can once again attend school without fear.
Stakeholders have commended Governor Radda for his courage and vision in addressing the complex security challenges in Katsina State. The success of the Katsina model has inspired other states like Zamfara and Kaduna to adopt similar initiatives. The stakeholders hope that other North-West states will follow suit to restore lasting peace to the region).
