President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered an immediate review of security operations in Katsina State, assuring that the federal government will deploy advanced military hardware, surveillance drones, and strengthen forest guards to curb bandit attacks.
The President gave the directive on Tuesday while receiving a delegation of eminent Katsina citizens, led by Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, at the State House in Abuja.
“The security challenges that we are facing are surmountable. Yes, we have porous borders. We inherited weaknesses that could have been addressed earlier. It is a challenge that we must fix, and we are facing it,” Tinubu said.
He disclosed that all security agencies have been instructed to “energise further and look at the strategies,” while confirming presidential approval for the acquisition of additional drones.
The President also signaled readiness to establish a state police system and enhance forest guard operations to provide grassroots-based security.
“I am reviewing all the aspects of security; I have to create a state police. We are looking at that holistically. We will defeat insecurity. We must protect our children, people, livelihood, places of worship, and recreational spaces. They can’t intimidate us,” Tinubu added.
The President promised that Katsina would continue to receive federal support, stressing that Nigeria must not succumb to the threats of bandits. He also pledged that former President Muhammadu Buhari would be immortalised in recognition of his contributions to the nation.
“The time we lost our brother, President Buhari, is a loss for all of us. It is the will of God Almighty, but he has left in a good way. He didn’t hand over a defeated country, a battered political structure, but a legacy of success, which is the most important thing,” Tinubu said.
Governor Radda expressed appreciation for the President’s unwavering support to Katsina, particularly in the appointment of indigenes to key federal positions and infrastructure provision.
“Mr President, I would like to thank you very much, and I want to say before our elders that I never came to the President with a request that he rejected. We thank you, Mr President, for sharing with Katsina. You are a true son of Katsina State,” the governor stated.
Former Katsina Governor Aminu Bello Masari also thanked Tinubu for honouring Buhari with what he described as a “true state funeral,” while reaffirming the state’s loyalty to his administration.
The Waziri of Katsina, Senator Ibrahim Ida, praised Tinubu’s efforts to complete the Kano-Maradi rail project and called for the upgrade of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport. He also urged the federal government to give more security attention to the southern part of Katsina.
The delegation commended the President’s interventions and pledged continued cooperation to ensure peace and development in the state.
