State Police, Community Police And The Battle At Matazu

The death of Maj. Gen. Abubakar Rabe, may Allah forgive his soul, has hit hard on the conscience of the Nigerian society; both the security apparatus and the civilian populace have been at their lowest ebb in the face of such a damning loss.

A decorated officer who had retired to a humble life, after diligently serving his nation with his life on the line for decades as a prominent figure in the fight against insurgency and terrorism, has now fallen into the captivity of bandits. His life did not fall in any of the fierce battle theatres, but as a cheap target of terrorists who had been in a huge burnout as a result of the intense military operations of the last two months.

In the month of May alone, 450 terrorists were eliminated by several operations of the Nigerian military, such as Operation Hadin Kai and Operation Sweep III of Operation Fansan Yamma. Combined ground and aerial offensives have led to the release of 361 kidnap victims in Borno, and the extermination of a convoy of over 100 bandits in Niger state in the space of a month. The most recent release of another 45 hostages in Borno a few days ago speaks volumes about the new war on terror. The evolution of terrorism in Nigeria has necessitated not only the revamping of Nigeria’s military artillery, but a remodelling of the security architecture where hybrid teams are saddled with tactical operations that besiege terrorist activities with greater precision. These specialised teams also help plug leaks of details about army operations.

The DSS has also mounted such operations alongside vigilante/community guards, and the same is true of the military, too. The military has, in the last few years, churned out various special & tactical forces with expertise in counter-terrorism operations. The Office of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has been facilitating these specialised tactical teams, which have been recording tremendous success in intelligence-driven counter-insurgency operations in states like Kogi, Niger and Kwara. These special teams have led to the neutralisation of bandit kingpin Kachalla Ibrahim Bastuji.

Insurgency in Nigeria had found harbour in vast ungoverned forest spaces that presented as territories and breeding grounds for terrorism. Our borders have been porous enough to serve as toll-free gates for invading marauders who have revolutionised our home-bred/ local content brand of terrorism. Today, we have awoken to a battle royal of terrorist groups fighting over vast forests and intertwined communities.

Boko haram, ISWAP, ISSP, Bandits, Lakurawa, IPOB and your good old armed robbers and kidnappers are all part of the composite group labelled terrorists. Miners of mineral resources and timber harvesters are all components of the insecurity industry pillaging Nigeria, especially in the North. The fight against terror is in its 2nd decade, and the otherwise smaller or confined terrorist activity in one region has now become a national impasse as the nation continues to bleed from its menace. There are virtually no safe havens now, as almost all the regions of the country are battling one form of insurgency or another. However, recent military exploits have rekindled our hopes for the better.

This unending war against terror has definitely been the reason for a review of the state police debate, and its proponents have a solid cause. It is viewed as a much better solution to the challenges of the war on terror as different communities are affected in different ways.

Therefore, localised security apparatuses are looking like the way to go, more than ever. The argument against state police is buttressed by Chief Samuel Akintola’s use of regional police against Pa Awolowo between 1962 and 1965. Today’s state police bill includes clauses aimed at mitigating the unholy use of state security structures to stifle opposition in the states. But this remains to be seen in the course of implementation, and, as a democracy in progress, if there is general apprehension about it, the drawing board will be resorted to once again. For now, the overwhelming security challenges in our communities are in dire need of added security forces in the suburbs. The Federal Government has already embarked on this with various community-driven forces, such as Forest Guards, Mining Marshals, and State Vigilantes.

The collaboration between the military and these local vigilantes and its successes cannot be overemphasised. The Community Watch Corps, CWC, in Katsina is a shining example of what local communities can offer in terms of self-defence and security protection for largely ungoverned spaces in the suburbs. The CWC draws its ‘troops’ from each of the state’s 361 wards. They are trained by soldiers and police officers in intelligence gathering, weaponry, combat, and communication skills with gadgets that enhance intelligence exchange.

The state government has provided them with motorbikes, Hilux Vans, APCs (Armoured Personnel Carriers), and security-driven communication gadgets. A CWC of over 3,000 personnel has conducted successful operations across the state and has been widely lauded by the military for their gallantry and contributions to the success of the war against terror in Katsina. They have been quite useful in navigating the forests and hidden enclaves of the terrorists and have taken the war to the terrorists on innumerable occasions.

In March of 2026, one of such raids led to the extermination of 45 bandits at the Danmusa local council in a fierce gun battle. Another gun battle between the CWC and the bandits at Jibia LGA claimed 15 lives as CWC members defended and repelled an attack in the area. The rescue of Maj. Gen. Rabe’s wife, in a raid tagged Operation Clean Sweep III by the Operation Fansan Yamma Joint Task Force targeting Matazu local council and its surrounding communities, is another gallant offensive in collaboration with local vigilantes.

So recent smear campaigns that bandits are being sponsored for hajj are therefore untrue, as they are being pummeled on a daily basis and are fast losing the war in Katsina.

The success of Katsina’s CWC is being adopted in neighbouring Northwestern states, and the state police development would consolidate the CWC initiative, providing the legal impetus and funding for the equipping of local forces whose personnel can be absorbed by the state police. Just like the local govt autonomy push, state police will definitely bring government presence closer to our deprived, impoverished and insecure communities. My deepest condolences to the Rabe family and those of the CWCs of the Dikko Radda administration who lost their lives in the fight against banditry. Indeed, with hardship comes ease ( fa inna ma’al usri yusra), and Insha Allah, God willing, this shall come to pass.