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Victims of banditry, community leaders, security stakeholders, government representatives and civil society organisations on Thursday converged at a town hall meeting organised by News Central in Katsina State to discuss the growing insecurity in the state and explore practical solutions to end years of violent attacks.
The gathering provided survivors of banditry with an opportunity to recount their experiences and highlight the devastating human and economic impact of the crisis on affected communities. Participants also called for stronger collaboration among government, security agencies and local communities to restore peace across the state.
Emotions ran high as several victims narrated painful experiences of kidnapping, loss of loved ones and destruction of livelihoods.
One of the survivors, Abdullahi Dalla of Daddara community, recounted how he and his brother were abducted by bandits and held captive for 15 days.
According to him, his brother was killed before his eyes after the kidnappers demanded a ransom of N10 million from their family.
“My family could only raise N700,000 because of our financial situation, and that was how I regained my freedom,” he said.
Another victim, Muryamu Musa from Kankiya Local Government Area, narrated how her husband was abducted on September 29, 2025, while travelling to work.
She said that before leaving home, her husband had asked whether she was ready to visit her mother, adding that despite attempts by neighbours to warn him of the danger ahead, he had already left. He was later killed by his captors.
The event also featured the screening of excerpts from Bandits of Katsina, an investigative documentary produced by News Central and reported by Rukayyah Jibia.
The documentary examines the impact of armed violence on communities across the state and includes interviews with suspected bandit leaders, providing additional context for discussions at the town hall.
Participants stressed the need for improved intelligence gathering, closer cooperation between residents and security agencies, enhanced support for victims of violence and the implementation of inclusive peace-building initiatives capable of addressing the root causes of insecurity.
Speaking at the event, the Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of News Central, Kayode Akintemi, urged Nigerians to take collective responsibility in confronting insecurity.
According to him, lasting peace requires active participation from citizens alongside government efforts.
“When there is insecurity in a country, it is because we have allowed it to happen. We are where we are because of our choices. We must make a decision that this must stop now, and that decision must come from the people,” he said.
Akintemi also noted that the Katsina engagement was part of the broadcaster’s wider efforts to amplify the voices of communities affected by insecurity through investigative journalism and public dialogue.
He recalled that similar town hall meetings had previously been organised in Oyo and Benue states as part of News Central’s campaign to encourage public participation in finding solutions to security challenges.
