By Mu’awuya Bala Idris, Katsina
Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has lamented the politicisation of insecurity, warning politicians against using the security situation as a campaign tool ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Governor Radda made the remarks during a sensitisation programme and public lecture organised by the Katsina Scholars Forum for Community Advancement.
The event had the theme: “The Role of Islamic Ulama, Traditional Rulers and Community Leaders in the Maintenance of Peace.”
He expressed concern that some politicians were exploiting the insecurity challenge for political gain instead of offering practical solutions to address the problem.
The governor advised politicians seeking elective offices to focus on presenting clear strategies for tackling insecurity if elected, rather than using the crisis to score political points.
“Insecurity is a concern for everyone and requires a collective approach to overcome,” he said.
Radda noted that his administration had adopted a multi-stakeholder approach by engaging traditional rulers, Islamic scholars, community leaders and other relevant stakeholders for advice and suggestions on addressing the security challenges.
“We reached out to traditional rulers, Islamic scholars, communities and other relevant stakeholders for suggestions and advice on how to tackle the problem,” the governor stated.
He disclosed that the state government had recruited 2,500 Community Watch Corps personnel and continued to provide financial and logistical support to security agencies operating in the state.
According to him, the measures have significantly reduced insecurity across Katsina State.
He said markets and roads that were previously shut because of insecurity had reopened for business, while frontline local government areas once plagued by bandit attacks were gradually returning to normal.
The governor called on Islamic scholars to work closely with the government by exposing criminals and continuously preaching peace, unity and lawful conduct in their communities.
Speaking at the event, the Deputy Governor, Faruk Lawal Jobe, said the Radda administration had introduced regular security meetings and briefing sessions involving traditional rulers to provide government with updates on the security situation in their respective communities.
Jobe said the initiative had improved information sharing and enabled the government to respond more effectively to emerging security threats across the state.
During the programme, Islamic scholars, security personnel and members of the judiciary offered various recommendations aimed at strengthening efforts to tackle insecurity and sustain peace in Katsina State.
