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Katsina Governor Boosts Community Defense And Security Against Bandits
Governor Dikko Umar Radda of Katsina has shared encouraging news regarding the ongoing battle against banditry in the state.
He revealed that many communities have become less accessible to bandits, thanks to proactive measures taken by residents to safeguard themselves from attacks.
In his remarks, Radda explained the pressing need for a more robust security presence in Nigeria.
He expressed concern that the current number of security personnel is insufficient to effectively tackle the nation’s myriad security challenges.
This acknowledgement has led to a push for residents to adopt self-defence strategies and ease the efforts of traditional security forces.
During an interview with the BBC Hausa service, Radda explained that his administration has initiated programs to empower residents with the skills necessary to protect themselves from bandit threats, even before any official security intervention takes place.
He reported positive outcomes from these initiatives, noting that several communities are now inaccessible to bandits due to the measures implemented by the locals.
Radda stated, “We are not advocating for people to take up arms.
Rather, we believe that the number of security operatives in Nigeria is not enough to adequately protect all citizens.
Our call is for communities to provide for their youth so we can train them and equip them with the means to defend themselves while awaiting intervention from security forces.”
He emphasized the unfortunate reality that a small group of armed bandits can wreak havoc in larger communities, stating, “It is alarming how just three or four armed individuals can terrorize a community of 500, 1,000, or even 2,000 people.
This is a critical issue we have been addressing for a long time.”
To combat this threat, Radda launched the ‘Katsina Community Watch’ initiative shortly after taking office.
This program focuses on recruiting local youth, training them, and providing operational equipment to help them support the security agencies.
By empowering communities to take an active role in their defence, Radda aims to create a safer environment for all residents.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has reportedly declared a strike at Taraba State University over outstanding salary-related demands and delays in payments.
The strike is scheduled to begin today, October 12, 2026. According to the union’s chairman, the union had been engaging the Taraba State Government over its outstanding demands since February 2026.
“The union had exercised considerable patience and demonstrated its commitment to dialogue since February 2026, when it began engaging the Taraba State Government over the outstanding issues,” Mbave said.
“The union had earlier suspended its planned industrial action following an appeal by the government for additional time through the Office of the Head of Civil Service, in the interest of maintaining industrial harmony,” the chairman added.
The Chairman of Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State, Torseer Yina, has imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in the ancient town.
The curfew takes effect from Thursday, October 8, 2026, following unrest and violent protests in the area.
According to reports, the action was taken to contain the unrest and violent protests by members of BEMOA following the death of one of its members by unknown gunmen.
The protest, which was reportedly hijacked by hoodlums, turned violent after an angry mob burnt two vehicles belonging to the Benue State Civil Protection Guards.
The Gboko council chairman said the curfew takes effect immediately and warned that anyone caught flouting the order or breaching public peace would be decisively dealt with.
Nine people have died in a fatal road crash along the Ijebu-Ode-Benin Expressway in Ogun State.
The crash occurred on Monday at about 4:55pm around the Bethel area along the Ijebu-Ode/Ore axis of the expressway. It involved a white Toyota Hiace commercial bus belonging to Delta Line and a white Sino truck operated by Bill Gas Solution Ltd.
According to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), all nine people involved in the crash, comprising three males and six females, died in the incident.
The FRSC said the crash occurred while it was raining and the road was wet, with preliminary investigations identifying speed violation as the probable cause.
The FRSC rescue team arrived at the scene shortly after receiving the report, while the bodies of the victims were taken to the General Hospital Morgue in Ijebu-Ode.
The Ogun State Sector Commander, Oludare Ogunjobi, urged motorists, especially commercial drivers, to obey speed limits and exercise extra caution when driving in the rain.
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