President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced plans to deploy more sophisticated military hardware and surveillance technology to combat the escalating banditry in Katsina State.
Speaking at the State House in Abuja while receiving a delegation of eminent citizens from the state, led by Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, President Tinubu said his administration will also strengthen forest guards and consider the establishment of state police as part of wider security reforms.
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Advanced Security Measures in Katsina
Decrying the spate of attacks on innocent residents, Tinubu directed security agencies to intensify operations in Katsina and provide him with daily feedback on their activities.
“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.
I have today directed all the security agencies to energise further and look at the strategies. We have approved the additional acquisition of drones,” the President said.
State Police Under Consideration
The President stressed that the proposal for state policing should not be politicised, noting that localised outfits are better equipped to understand the terrain and culture of their communities.
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“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 stated.
Buhari to Be Immortalised
President Tinubu also assured 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 or a battered political structure, but a legacy of success, which is the most important thing,” Tinubu said.
Katsina Leaders Express Gratitude
Governor Radda thanked the President for his continued support for Katsina State, especially through appointments of indigenes to key national positions and infrastructure development.
“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,” Radda said, while appealing for more support in security, youth empowerment, and infrastructure.
Former Governor Aminu Bello Masari also commended the President for granting late Buhari a “true state funeral,” while pledging the loyalty of the people of Katsina.
The Waziri of Katsina, Senator Ibrahim Ida, praised Tinubu’s commitment to completing the Kano–Maradi Rail project and called for the upgrade of the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport, as well as additional federal attention to security in southern Katsina.