By MS Ingawa
In November 2022, as the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, Ph.D, CON, presented a detailed policy blueprint titled “Building Your Future Strategic Policy” (BYFSP), a document that would go on to shape the direction of his administration as Governor of Katsina State. This eight-point agenda addressed critical sectors including Security, Public Sector Reform, Education and Skills Development, Social Care, Healthcare, MSMEs and Local Economies, Agriculture and Industrial Revolution, and Internally Generated Revenue.
Now, two years into the Radda administration, while all areas have seen varying degrees of progress, the emphasis has undoubtedly been on one issue; security.
A State Under Siege
Before the 2023 general elections, Katsina State was grappling with a deeply rooted security crisis. Over 80% of the state was under threat, with 19 Local Government Areas (LGAs) considered frontline zones of violent banditry and kidnappings. These included Jibiya, Funtua, Sabuwa, Kankara, Faskari, Safana, Batsari, Danmusa, Dandume, Kankiya, Danja, Bakori, Charanchi, Dutsinma, Matazu, Malumfashi, and Batagarawa. The rising insecurity had crippled agriculture, the economic lifeline of the state, while displacing thousands and plunging communities into fear.
It was under these conditions that Governor Radda took office, inheriting a state on the brink of collapse in key sectors due to persistent insecurity. From day one, he made the decision to pivot most of the state’s resources and political energy toward resolving this existential threat.
Governance in Context
It’s important to understand that governance is a continuous, adaptive and dynamic process. Insecurity, in particular, evolves rapidly, forcing both state and federal authorities to frequently revise strategies. What Radda-led administration brought to the table, however, was a dual-pronged approach; kinetic (military and enforcement-based) and non-kinetic (community-based, intelligence-led, and developmental). These approaches were not only strategic but contextually relevant, given the nature of the threats Katsina faced—banditry, cross-border crimes, cattle rustling, and insurgent movements in hard-to-reach rural areas.
The Non-Kinetic Approach; Winning Hearts, Building Systems
One of the most notable achievements under the non-kinetic strategy was the creation of the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs (MISHA). This was the first time Katsina had a dedicated institution tasked solely with coordinating internal security matters and collaborating directly with federal security agencies. MISHA became a hub for intelligence sharing, rapid threat assessment, and crisis coordination.
Complementing this, the government formed the State Security Council Advisory Committee, a high-level think-tank comprising traditional rulers, community leaders, religious leaders, retired security personnel, and civil society representatives. This committee provides strategic insight and community-oriented recommendations towards addressing the challenges.
Furthermore, the administration signed into law the establishment of the Katsina State Community Security Watch Corps (KSCSWC), a localized security outfit rooted in community engagement. Over 2,000 corps members were recruited and deployed to the most affected LGAs. The intention was simple but bold: security must be participatory, locally informed, and proactive.
To improve this initiative, the governor appointed a Special Adviser on Community Security Watch Corps, tasked with overseeing operations, logistics, and community feedback mechanisms. Additionally, a Senior Special Assistant on Banditry Victims and IDPs was appointed to handle the welfare, resettlement, and psychosocial support of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
Another community-driven innovation was the restructuring and deployment of 918 personnel into LGA-level Security Council Committees and the establishment of District Vetting Committees to ensure local legitimacy of personnel and outcomes. At the grassroots level, 9,747 Ward-Level Security Support Groups were mobilized to carry out sensitization, early warning surveillance, and peacebuilding activities across wards.
Regional Collaboration for a Shared Crisis
Recognizing the cross-border and regional nature of the security crisis, the Radda-led administration hosted a Northwestern Security Summit in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The summit brought together stakeholders from neighboring states and federal agencies to develop a regional security framework. This groundbreaking event produced a roadmap for enhanced regional cooperation, intelligence sharing, and joint task forces that would focus on border patrol, arms smuggling routes, and coordinated military responses.
The Kinetic Approach: Boots, Bullets, and Backbone
Under the kinetic strategy, the government committed to strengthening on-ground operations through manpower and equipment. More than 2,000 personnel under the KSCSWC were trained and deployed across the 19 high-risk LGAs. In parallel, the government engaged 1,500 vigilante members and deployed 200 civilian hunters to provide backup and local intelligence in hard-hit communities.
To equip these frontline operatives, the administration procured Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), Toyota Hilux patrol vehicles, Daylong motorcycles, Combat gear including bulletproof vests, helmets, and walkie-talkies, Drones for aerial surveillance, Tear gas grenades and other non-lethal tools. In addition, Security Watch Corps Offices were established in strategic LGAs to serve as coordination centers. Monthly logistics budgets were approved to ensure fuel, allowances, and emergency supplies remained available for operational continuity.
The most recent State Executive Council meeting also saw the approval for additional arms, motorcycles, and specialized vehicles—proof that the administration remains committed to equipping its forces on the frontlines.
Measuring Progress: Are We There Yet?
Have these strategies worked? The answer depends on the metric used.
If judged by community feedback and territorial gains, the answer is largely affirmative. Many LGAs previously deemed ungovernable have been reclaimed, and farming has resumed in some of the once-abandoned villages. Incidents of attacks, while not eradicated completely, have become less frequent in several parts of the state.
But governance is not only about outcomes; it is also about intent, effort, and structure. The administration has built systems that will outlive its tenure—institutions, policies, and platforms designed to adapt and evolve with the changing nature of security threats. The administration has also had to face the painful reality of lives lost in the line of duty—a tragic but stark reminder of the seriousness of the battle. Yet, the sacrifices made by these heroes are not in vain if the structures they helped build continue to function effectively. Governance, especially in crisis contexts like Katsina’s, demands tough decisions. The Radda administration has made its choices, guided by strategy, urgency, and political will.
A Final Thought: What Would You Have Done Differently?
This piece is not just a summary of what has been done by the administration over the last two years. It is a provocation, a challenge for critical and sincere reflection. Democracy thrives on engagement and divergent views. The debate is not about cancelling or downplaying what has been done, but about imagining and advising what more could be done, and how it could be done better.
This makes me wonder and curiously ask; if you were in the shoes of Governor Dikko Radda, what would you have done differently?
MS Ingawa is the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Media and Strategy
