As Governor Radda Pledges Relief, Reconstruction

Katsina State residents have been forced to confront invading bandits with stones, prompting a lawmaker to take unprecedented steps to arm and train constituents in self-defence.

The incident that sparked the intervention occurred in Bagari, where villagers, lacking firearms, tried to repel attackers with stones. The confrontation left one villager dead and another abducted. The daring yet tragic act caught the attention of Hon. Abubakar Muhammad, popularly known as Total, the representative of Funtua Constituency in the Katsina State House of Assembly.

“The courage of the villagers moved me, but their helplessness broke me,” Muhammad told RFI. “It was then I decided to help them with arms.”

The lawmaker has since provided weapons to six wards within his constituency, placing them under the supervision of the Community Watch Corps (CWC). The corps also conducted training for residents on proper weapon handling.

“My intention is not to militarise the people; it is to give them a fighting chance until security personnel arrive,” Muhammad added.

Over the past months, villages including Maska, Makera, Ungwan Shanu, and Bagari have endured repeated bandit raids. Survivors reported that police often arrived after the attackers had left, leading residents to request arms for self-defence.

Despite the state government’s deployment of eight Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) and federal troops, locals in Malumfashi and surrounding areas remain exposed. Alhaji Umar Usman of Ungwan Farin Kai and the Councillor of Na’alma Ward, Usman A. Usman, criticized the concentration of security resources in major towns, leaving rural communities vulnerable.

Dr. Bala Hussaini, a lecturer at Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, called the federal and state responses “reactionary,” urging proactive measures to tackle bandit hideouts before attacks occur.

In response to rising insecurity, Katsina State Acting Governor Faruk Lawal-Jobe, while hosting the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, called for increased troop deployment and air support. Lt Gen. Oluyede commended the state for its support and underscored the need for collective responsibility among the military, government, and citizens.

Meanwhile, Governor Dikko Umaru Radda cut short his medical leave abroad to visit Malumfashi Local Government Area, which recently suffered renewed attacks. He conducted an on-the-spot assessment of affected communities, consoling victims and pledging immediate relief and reconstruction.

Governor Radda announced a relief package of ₦500,000 per affected household and promised to rebuild all homes destroyed in the attacks. He also committed to constructing a modern school and hospital, renovating the community mosque, and rehabilitating roads to improve security response.

Additionally, the governor directed the Malumfashi Local Government chairman to mobilise and train youths for community defence alongside traditional rulers, and plans are underway to deploy a military battalion to strengthen security operations in the area.

“Human life is sacred; it is not a game. Security is about saving lives, not politics,” Governor Radda said during the visit.

Community leaders, including Galadiman Katsina, Justice Sadiq Abdullahi Mahuta, and Magajin Garin Karfi, Malam Wa’alamu Garba, praised the governor’s swift response and decision to abandon his medical leave to console affected families.

Local sources noted that repeated attacks have forced many residents to flee their homes, underscoring the urgency of strengthened security measures. Efforts to obtain comments from the Katsina State Police Command were unsuccessful as messages and calls to the Police Spokesman went unanswered.

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