Tinubu Orders Security Overhaul in Katsina, Backs State Police Debate‎

By Abiola Adigun

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered a comprehensive review of security operations in Katsina State, following renewed banditry attacks that have left communities devastated in recent weeks.
Speaking at the State House in Abuja on Tuesday while receiving a delegation of eminent citizens of Katsina led by Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, the President announced fresh measures to stem the tide of violence. These include the deployment of advanced military hardware, surveillance drones, and a stronger role for newly created forest guards.
“The security challenges that we are facing are surmountable. Yes, we have porous borders. We inherited weaknesses that could have been addressed earlier. But it is a challenge that we must fix, and we are facing it,” President Tinubu said.
“I have today directed all the security agencies to energise further and look at the strategies. We have approved the additional acquisition of drones. I am reviewing all aspects of security, including the creation of a state police. We will defeat insecurity.”
The President emphasised that state policing, often a contentious issue in Nigeria’s federal structure, may be unavoidable in regions where local knowledge of the terrain and community networks are vital.
Insecurity has remained Nigeria’s most daunting challenge for over a decade. From Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East, to farmer-herder conflicts in the Middle Belt, oil theft in the Niger Delta, and banditry and kidnappings in the North-West, the country has struggled to contain multiple security threats simultaneously.
Katsina, the home state of the late President Muhammadu Buhari, has been one of the epicentres of rural banditry. Thousands of residents have been displaced in the past five years, while farming and commerce have been crippled in parts of the state. According to SBM Intelligence, at least 600 people were kidnapped in Katsina between January and August 2025 alone.
Security analyst Dr. Kabiru Adamu, CEO of Beacon Consulting, described Tinubu’s latest directive as “a positive step, but one that must be backed with accountability.”
“The President’s approval of drones and advanced technology is commendable, but what Nigerians want to see is sustained action. State policing, if well structured, could be a game-changer, but it must not be politicised,” Adamu told The Nation.
Governor Radda, while thanking Tinubu for his support to the state, pressed for stronger interventions in youth empowerment and infrastructure to complement security efforts.
“We are here again, Mr President, because Katsina needs more support in tackling insecurity. Our people are suffering. Without jobs and opportunities for young people, the bandits will always find recruits,” Radda said.
Former Governor Aminu Bello Masari praised Tinubu for according Buhari a state funeral and urged sustained federal presence in Katsina. The Waziri of Katsina, Senator Ibrahim Ida, also called for an upgrade of the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport and more federal attention to Southern Katsina, which has become a hotspot for bandit attacks.
In Katsina metropolis, reactions to Tinubu’s directive were mixed. While some residents welcomed the promise of new technology, others expressed doubts about implementation.
“We’ve heard these promises before. Drones and forest guards will only work if there’s discipline and sincerity among the security agencies,” said Aisha Danladi, a trader in Kankara.
“The idea of state police is long overdue. Who knows our villages better than us? Outsiders can’t fight this battle alone,” argued Musa Shehu, a community leader in Faskari.
The debate over state policing has divided Nigeria’s political class for years. Proponents argue it will localise security and improve intelligence gathering, while opponents fear it could be abused by governors against political rivals.
But as banditry, kidnappings, and terrorism continue to spread, more Nigerians are warming up to the idea. Tinubu’s Tuesday remarks suggest that the administration is prepared to push the conversation further than any of his predecessors.
For many Nigerians, however, the test will not be in speeches but in whether children can go to school without fear, farmers can return to their fields, and roads become safe again.
“Insecurity is not just about guns,” said Prof. Jibrin Ibrahim, a political scientist. “It is about rebuilding trust between government and citizens. If Tinubu delivers on both security hardware and governance reforms, then we may begin to see real change.”