With the backing of the Katsina State government and a renewed spirit of resilience, residents are no longer mere victims. They are fighters. Armed with licenced weapons, local vigilantes and community defence groups are pushing back against the terror that once dominated their lives.
For years, rural communities in Katsina State have been plagued by bandit attacks, killings, kidnappings, and cattle rustling that shattered lives and instilled fear.
But today, the narrative is shifting. Faced with relentless violence, residents have taken up arms, forming self-defence groups with government support.
While security forces continue their offensive, local communities now play a crucial role in defending their homes. In some of the most affected areas, Batsari, Jibia, Kankara, Sabuwa, Dandume, Safana, Faskari, Matazu, Musawa, Danja, Kafur, Bakori, Malumfashi, Dutsin-Ma, and Danmusa community-led efforts have significantly reduced crime and restored a sense of security.
Vigilantes, Community Watch Corps (CWC), and Civilian Joint Task Force members are organised into structured self-defence groups and patrol villages, confront attackers, and work with security personnel to reclaim peace.
“We got tired of running,” says Malam Sani, a vigilante leader in Safana. “Now, with government support, we have the tools to protect ourselves”, he said
Under Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, the state government has played a key role in this grassroots security movement. Recognising the need for local involvement, the administration has recruited and empowered CWC members, providing them with logistics and a monthly allowance to sustain their efforts.
“We are committed to ensuring peace in every corner of Katsina,” Governor Radda stated. “Supporting community-led defence efforts has been key to our progress.”
Investigations reveal that these measures are yielding results. Local government chairmen report a drastic reduction in attacks, with community-based defence proving highly effective.
The Faskari, local government chairman Musa Ado confirms a significant drop in attacks, thanks to 150 CWC members, vigilantes, and security personnel deployed in the area. He also credits local negotiation efforts for the improvement.
“IDPs have disappeared from the town as many people return home,” he said, adding that recent attacks were carried out by bandits sneaking in from Zamfara.
Dandume’s chairman, Basiru Musa, praised the courage of 260 CWC members, 100 vigilantes, and security forces working together to restore 60% of normalcy.
“The bandits have changed tactics, now resorting to silent kidnappings before opening fire,” he noted.
Despite progress, some areas remain vulnerable. Sabuwa, with its multiple borders with Niger, Zamfara, Kebbi, and Kaduna, is a hotspot. Chairman Faruk Ayatu attributes rising hostility to the governor’s refusal to negotiate with bandits.
“They are threatening us, saying we must embrace the Kaduna peace deal if we want to sleep with two eyes closed,” he revealed.
Yet, Ayatu commended the CWC and vigilantes for repelling attacks and praised the government’s support for victims.
“The governor provides aid to families of the deceased, covers medical bills for the injured, and financially assists freed kidnap victims,” he added.
In Danja, CWC commander Abdurazak Hamza proudly declared the area free from banditry.
“Bandits no longer follow Danja routes,” he said, crediting relentless community-led operations and government backing.
Kankara’s chairman, Anas Isah, reports that 150 CWC members and 150 vigilantes effectively assist security forces, thanks to adequate government-provided logistics.
In Batsari, Chairman Ali Mamman notes an 80% drop in security threats but blames insider leaks for continued kidnappings.
“The reduction in attacks is reviving economic activities, especially agriculture, where the governor has provided additional incentives,” he stated.
In Matazu and Musawa, a major challenge remains informants, many of them women who allegedly receive payments from bandits. Matazu LGA Secretary Abdulsalam Aliyu revealed that two women were recently caught accepting ₦30,000 and ₦40,000 for aiding bandits.
Aliyu, whose father was kidnapped and held for 21 days, describes the transformation in his area.
“The presence of vigilantes and CWC members has reduced crime by about 80 per cent. Now, we can sleep with both eyes closed,” he said.
Despite these gains, security threats persist, partly due to a controversial peace deal in neighbouring Kaduna State.
“When one state cracks down on bandits or negotiates with them, the criminals simply move to the next vulnerable area,” security analyst Malam Ibrahim Lawal explained. “That’s why Katsina is still experiencing some attacks despite overall improvements,” he said.
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