Katsina now national model for community-based security – Radda

Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State has declared that the state now serves as a national reference point for studying community-driven security management. This comes as efforts to tackle banditry and restore peace continue to attract both national and international attention.

​Governor Radda made the assertion while receiving participants of Senior Course 48 from the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji. The delegation visited the state for a study tour focused on community engagement and national security.

​Armed Forces delegation studies grassroots engagement

The delegation comprised 91 participants drawn from the Army, Navy, and Air Force, as well as allied African countries including The Gambia, Côte d’Ivoire, and Liberia. The visit formed part of the 2026 environmental study tour themed: “Promoting community engagement for enhanced national security and prosperity.”

​According to the Governor, the decision to select Katsina for the tour was deliberate, given the state’s growing reputation for grassroots security initiatives and inclusive governance. He noted that security challenges require the active involvement of local populations to develop practical, long-term solutions for the country.

​​Radda explained that his administration adopted a community-based strategy after discovering that conventional security personnel were insufficient to address insecurity effectively. He stated that the number of military, police, and civil defence personnel available is far below what is required nationwide.

​Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed, the chief Press Secretary, released a statement noting that most attacks occur in remote rural communities. In these areas, response times from security agencies can take hours, making local intelligence and rapid community response essential to saving lives.​

The Governor described insecurity in Katsina largely as criminal activity, such as cattle rustling and kidnapping, rather than ideological extremism. However, he stressed that some of these crimes are sustained through local support networks that must be dismantled through community trust.

​As part of efforts to confront these challenges, the state established the Katsina Community Watch Corps. Members were recruited through structured processes, trained by security agencies, and deployed to support conventional forces within established legal frameworks.