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Katsina Governor Approves N680m for renovation of Graveyards

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, has approved the whooping sum of N680 million for the renovation of graveyards across the 34 local government areas of the state.

Radda, who announced the approval when he received royal fathers from Katsina and Daura Emirates at the Government House on Thursday evening, said the gesture would attract Allah’s blessings for the state.

He explained that N20 million has been approved for each of the 34 local government councils, amounting to N680 million, to enable them to rehabilitate graveyards in their respective territories.

“My administration has approved over N20 million for each local government council to renovate graveyards in their areas. This initiative is both a service to the people and a way of seeking Allah’s blessings for the state”, Radda said.

He, however, said all district heads in the state will now earn salaries not less than Grade Level 16 in accordance with the new law passed by the State House of Assembly.

He added that 6,652 ward heads across the state have been placed on monthly allowances, while 3,000 Imams and their deputies from Friday mosques will also be supported with stipends.

“Furthermore, Izala and Darika mosque sweepers in each of the 34 local government areas will also benefit from the allowances”, the governor stated.

Governor Radda reiterated his administration’s unwavering commitment to tackling insecurity and strengthening traditional and religious institutions across the state to tame the scourge.

 

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Wanted Bandit Kingpin Ado Aleru Attends Peace Meeting in Katsina

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Ado Aleru, a wanted bandit leader, has resurfaced at a peace meeting in Bichi community, Danmusa LGA of Katsina state.

Aleru, who has been on the police watchlist since 2020 with a N5 million bounty on his head, was seen in a video addressing community members, government officials, security personnel, and traditional leaders during the meeting held on Saturday.

Zagazola Makama, a counterinsurgency publication, reports that Aleru used the gathering to advocate peaceful coexistence between Fulani herders and farming communities.

Makama noted that the meeting was attended by personnel of the Nigerian Army (NA), Danmusa LGA officials, and religious and traditional leaders.

Aleru reportedly outlined steps that herders, farmers, and government actors must take to end bloodshed in the area.

The meeting has elicited condemnations across the state and on social media.

A top government source criticised the peace deal, calling it a betrayal of justice.

“Ado Aleru was declared wanted by police in this state under the leadership of CP Sanusi Buba,” the source told ThisDay.

“The command even placed a N5 million bounty on his head. He has made himself available now, they should go and arrest him to face the wrath of the law, but certainly not to negotiate with him because he is not sincere.”

Despite the backlash, Nasir Mua’zu, Katsina state commissioner for security and home affairs, defended the government’s involvement in the meeting.

Speaking to BBC Hausa, he said Aleru and seven other terrorist leaders had voluntarily surrendered and denounced terrorism.

He claimed they released 17 hostages as a goodwill gesture and promised to release the rest.

“We spent two years fighting these criminals, and the governor has made it clear that he will not negotiate with them,” Mua’zu said.

“But anyone who genuinely denounces banditry will be accepted and reintegrated into society.”

“Islamically, it is wrong for the government to continue fighting them since they accepted peace. And going by the Geneva Convention, it is also wrong to extend the fight after they came for dialogue.”

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Katsina Govt to open literacy classes for repentant bandits

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Katsina State Government has announced plans to open literacy classes for repentant bandits in the state, as part of efforts to reintegrate them into the society.

The Executive Director of the state’s Agency for Mass Education, Hajiya Bilkisu Muhammad-Kakai revealed this to newsmen in Katsina on Sunday.

She said: “The agency is ready to deploy facilitators to run the classes, where both Islamic and western education will be offered to change their behaviour and lifestyle.

“We will liaise with Local Government Chairmen to open the classes in phases. The core subjects are islamic and western education.”

The executive director, who reviewed the performance of the agency within the last six months, said the agency had opened 68 new adult education classes.

Muhammad-Kakai further explained that government had also opened a Basic Post Literacy Class at Katsina Correction Centre.

“The Basic Post Literacy Class is to assist enrolled inmates to reach up to university to obtain a degree certificate,” she added.

According to her, she toured all the local government areas and inspected adult education classes and women centres to assess their condition.

She said the state government had made financial provision in this year’s budget to address problems facing them.

Muhammad-Kakai also commended Gov. Dikko Radda for supporting the agency to carry out its mandate.

She used the medium to appeal to members of the National Assembly from the state to work with the agency to open more adult literacy and women centres.

The National Assembly members should provide some percentage of their constituency allowance for the running of adult education classes in their areas to wipe out illiteracy,” she pleaded.

The News Agency of Nigeria+NAN), recalls that on several occasions, Gov. Radda vowed not to seek for any dialogue with the bandits, except when they willingly surrender.

However, in recent time, there were series of dialogues which was reportedly facilitated by some forces from the federal level.

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BREAKING: Three Katsina PDP Reps defect to APC

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Three members of the House of Representatives from Katsina State elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have officially dumped the party for the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

Speaker of the House, Rajudeen Abbas, announced this on the floor of the House during plenary on Thursday.

A letter from the defectors was read by the Speaker.

The defectors cited the lingering internal crisis and unresolved issues within the PDP as the major reasons behind their decision to leave the party.

They further stated that the instability within the PDP has made it difficult to effectively serve their constituents and align with progressive governance.

Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State, in a show of solidarity and support, was present in the chamber to witness the lawmakers’ formal defection to the APC.

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Banditry: Only five guns in police armoury in Katsina LGA with 200 villages – Governor

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Governor of Katsina State, Dikko Radda, says that despite the gravity of insecurity in his state, a police station in a local government area has only five functional guns.

Katsina has 34 LGAs, but Mr Radda did not mention the name of the particular one when he spoke during an interview with DW Hausa Service on Tuesday.

However, Mr Radda said it has 10 political wards and more than 200 villages under it.

He said the council area has 32 police officers and only nine guns, of which only five are serviceable.

“Currently in Katsina, there is a local government area with 32 policemen and nine guns, and the serviceable guns are five.

“The LGA has 10 political wards, with more than 200 villages. How can a police force with 32 personnel protect them?” the furious governor lamented.

The governor said his administration would provide guns approved by the law for self-defence to vulnerable communities if people are willing to protect their communities and families against the bandits.

“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”, he stated.

He urged members of the vulnerable communities to be brave and be prepared to die like a man than to live or be killed like a coward.

He said the attackers are mostly few in number and malnourished and are from the neighbouring Kaduna and Zamfara, but can be dealt with if the local communities can strategise and confront them.

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Don’t Hide Under Beds, Come Out and Fight Bandits Yourselves – APC Governor Tells Residents

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Katsina State Governor Dikko Umar Radda has called on residents to take up arms and defend themselves against bandits.

This is as the leader, a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, acknowledged the government’s failure to protect them.

Radda made the comments during a town hall meeting in Daura, tagged ‘Public Engagement: 2025 Citizens’ Budget Participation Process’.

In a trending video on social media, Radda, who appeared angry could be heard saying, “It is unfortunate that a few bandits/gunmen would raid and abuse a whole community. Even themselves (bandits), are afraid of death,” he said.

He added, “…of all the terrorists operating in Katsina State, they are barely in possession of 700 rifles.

“Regrettably, three famished and emaciated bandits would hunt down 1,000 people while we look helplessly as some hide beneath their beds,” he lamented.

He then asked, “Members of the clergy are here, and it’s mandatory upon them to pass to the general public Prophet Muhammad (SAW)’s message concerning a robber that comes after your life or wealth. What did God command you to do?”l

“What humiliation! A situation where you stand idly watching while your wife or daughter is being raped? What is the essence of you being alive thereafter? Death is more honourable than some kinds of humiliation,” he said implying there’s every gain after death for the people to confront the bandits.

He added, “They spare any community that they are aware resists their incursions. They don’t dare attack such communities.

“We must raise insurrections and wanton killings. We have to be battle-ready,” he added.

He pointed out that, “Anytime, five or even 10 of them raid your community and you mobilise like 500 people, before he eliminates five persons, you would have tamed him – whoever he is.

“It is just a façade…they are runaways and afraid of death even more than us. They only want to instil fear and anxiety in us,” the governor added.

Katsina State has been plagued by banditry and terrorist attacks, with over 13 local government areas under terrorist control.

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BREAKING: Fire razes Katsina Government House

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

An early morning fire has razed the red chamber of Katsina Government House.

The chamber is attached to the governor’s office, where the governor meets important personalities.

Details are sketchy regarding the cause of the fire and the level of damage as at the time of this report.

Daily Trust gathered that Governor Dikko Umaru Radda was in Funtua attending a zonal town hall meeting when the calamity struck.

He was there to engage with the population on their needs and aspirations.

Details later……

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‘Bandits killed my elder brother who had 3 wives, 27 children’ Katsina State Governor, Radda reveals

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State said his saddest moment was any time he received news of bandits’ attacks in the state.

Radda, who stated this on Wednesday in Katsina at a press briefing for his one year in office, also revealed that his elder brother was killed by bandits.

“My saddest moment is when I receive calls that people were killed, houses burnt and women raped by bandits in a particular village. The only way to appreciate that is to put yourself in their shoes, and you will feel it. I have developed that feeling and it remained with me because my senior brother was killed by bandits. He left behind three wives and 27 children,” he said.

The governor noted that when his administration came on board, 22 out of the 34 local governments were severely affected by insecurity.

According to him, after the state government inaugurated the community security watch corps, the problem was drastically reduced.

He said that due to the intense pressure being mounted on the criminals, they have now resorted to attacking residents of hard-to-reach areas at night, making it difficult for the security operatives to respond easily.

The governor advocated the creation of state police in the country, saying: “Before I became governor, I was a critic of the state police. It is now that I see the importance of that.”

Radda further said that bad eggs in society are affecting the ongoing efforts in the fight against insecurity in the state.

“There was a village head who was arrested for collecting N700,000 to allow bandits to attack the village and kill over 30 people,” he said.

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