Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State, Northwest Nigeria, has pledged to support residents in defending themselves against bandits, as the state continues to face relentless attacks.
Radda urged communities to take up arms in self-defense, emphasizing that his administration would provide the necessary backing. “We have come up with an initiative that for any community ready to defend itself, we will give them necessary support and training to engage criminals before the arrival of the security agents,” Radda said.
He highlighted the challenges faced by security forces in reaching remote areas quickly, noting that in some cases, it can take hours for help to arrive. “By then, whatever is going to happen will have happened – they will have killed people and kidnapped others,” he added.
The governor also condemned the payment of ransom to kidnappers, arguing that it often fails to guarantee the safety of victims. “Paying ransom doesn’t even prevent a hostage from being killed by abductors; sometimes they (bandits) collect the money and kill the victim,” Radda said.
In response to the growing insecurity, Radda’s administration has established a Community Security Watch Corps, recruiting and training local youths to work alongside police and military forces. The government has also provided them with equipment, including rifles, bulletproof vests, motorcycles, and vehicles, to bolster their efforts in combating banditry.
Despite Radda’s call for self-defense, some officials, including Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, have expressed concerns. Lagbaja once warned against arming citizens, stating, “I do not support that. I think that is a call for anarchy.” However, Radda remains firm in his stance, urging communities to take charge of their own security with the state’s support.
—Ezinwanne Onwuka reports for TruthNigeria from Abuja.
