By Prof. M.K. Othman
In Nigeria’s North-West, particularly Katsina State, the struggle to establish security lies in balancing dialogue and deterrence. Governor Radda’s administration has focused on managing this balance to achieve lasting stability.
For over a decade, communities in Batsari, Jibia, Safana, Danmusa, Faskari, and Kankara faced persistent armed banditry. Villages were destroyed, schools closed, and farmland abandoned. The December 2020 abduction of hundreds of students in Kankara became a defining moment of crisis.
When Governor Dikko Umar Radda took office in May 2023, he confronted not just insecurity, but a community traumatized by years of violence. His challenge: restore security without militarizing daily life, seek peace without legitimizing crime, and offer realistic reassurance. As the Hausa proverb notes: “When the flood overwhelms, even fish seek refuge.”
In response, local government stakeholders pursued a multidimensional approach, including a peace accord, ongoing military operations, coordinated intelligence efforts, and community engagement with traditional rulers and armed groups. Despite varying public opinions, the main objective was clear: reduce violence and help communities resume normal life.
In truth, the complexity of insecurity in the North-West demands more than simplistic solutions, symbolic handshakes, or public declarations. The crisis itself is rooted in several interwoven realities: rural poverty, proliferation of illegal arms, weak infrastructure, youth unemployment, criminal opportunism, and fragile social conditions. Governments confronted with such circumstances are often compelled to combine firmness with pragmatism.
As another Hausa proverb wisely reminds us, “maganin zaman duniya hakuri ne” — patience is a rare remedy for difficult times. In September 2025, the governor invited hundreds of sons and daughters of Katsina State to a high-level security and governance consultation to find a lasting solution to the state’s insecurity.
On the kinetic front, the State Government boosted support for federal security operations and grew local surveillance. The Katsina Community Watch Corps became an important part of this effort. Thousands of local operatives supported official agencies, especially in vulnerable rural areas, by leveraging local knowledge and rapid intelligence sharing. Additional vehicles and logistics improved mobility and response.
Non-kinetic strategies—dialogue, reconciliation, and community engagement—provoked mixed reactions. Some see dialogue as crucial for de-escalation, while others urge caution to avoid weakening the rule of law. Worldwide, governments balance enforcement with negotiation and rehabilitation. This is not a substitute for constitutional authority but aids stability and recovery. Improvements in mobility, farming, and commerce were reported compared with the past period of insecurity.
Recent developments in 2025 and 2026 have further strengthened public confidence in the state’s evolving security architecture. Coordinated operations involving the Nigerian military, intelligence agencies, local vigilante groups, and community-based security networks have continued to achieve notable successes in previously notorious corridors. Outcomes include improved security in targeted localities, as scores of kidnapped victims regained their freedom during 2025 operations following sustained offensives and peace dialogue.
These coordinated efforts have increased synergy between the State Government and federal security agencies and reduced violence in key areas. Investments in intelligence gathering, local security structures, and interagency cooperation also received commendation in May 2026 from participants in Army Study Course 5 of Senior Course 48, who acknowledged the governor’s proactive commitment to stabilization and community security.
Debate about dialogue elicits diverse views—from supporters who recognize the dilemma, to critics. Such perspectives are healthy in a democracy, particularly regarding national security. While caution is wise, security work in complex environments always requires compromise. The aim remains to protect citizens, preserve lawful authority, and pursue lasting peace.
Radda’s administration closely linked security initiatives with development, operating on the principle that lasting peace requires resilience, economic stability, and access to services. By connecting these factors, his government keeps the main argument clear: peace and development are inseparable in restoring normal life in Katsina.
Traditional and religious leaders continue to mediate, advocate for coexistence, and support government restoration efforts. In Katsina, where community bonds are strong, these institutions link formal government and local realities. The State Government wisely maintains this collaborative approach, balancing security, justice, development, and trust.
Yet, challenges persist. Occasional attacks remind us that peace is gradual. Progress deserves recognition. Patience and resilience are needed for true success in normal routines on farms, in schools, in markets, and in homes.ws step by step.
Success in Katsina’s security relies on a sustained, multipronged approach that uses both kinetic and non-kinetic means. The administration’s main argument is that only by uniting all stakeholders and deploying complementary strategies can lasting peace and safety emerge amid persistent challenges.
The peace deal can be likened to the truce that ended Liberia’s civil war. When asked about her decision to vote during that truce, one Liberian woman replied, “I lost my son, my husband, and my brother in the civil war, and now I am voting for peace to stop the mindless killing.” Salute to Radda, the security forces, and all stakeholders in sustaining peace. May peace be everlasting, amen.
