Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, and the Director-General of the Department of State Services, DSS, Oluwatosin Ajayi, have called for stronger collaboration among security agencies, government institutions and communities to tackle terrorism, banditry and other criminal activities in the North-West.
They made the call on Thursday at the second North-West zonal conference of State Directors of Security, SDS, organised by the DSS in Katsina, with the theme, “Unite Against Terror.”
Radda, who was represented by his deputy, Farouk Jobe, said the region’s security challenges required a coordinated response involving government, security agencies and communities.
He said Katsina had recorded significant improvement in its security situation through a combination of kinetic and non-kinetic measures.
Radda said about 26 local government areas were consistently affected by attacks when his administration assumed office, with cases of killings, kidnapping for ransom and other crimes.
He said the state had also adopted measures to address some socioeconomic factors associated with insecurity, including support for victims of banditry and interventions in agriculture.
The governor called for stronger community intelligence and responsible reporting of security incidents, warning that sensational reporting could undermine public confidence and potentially benefit criminal groups.
Ajayi, represented by the Chairman of the North-West Forum of State Directors of Security and Kano State Director of DSS, Husseini Abubakar, also called for a coordinated action.
He said the conference provided an opportunity for security stakeholders to assess evolving threats, share operational experiences and develop strategies to contain terrorism and banditry in the region.
The DSS boss said the Service was strengthening the tactical capabilities of its personnel to improve its response to emerging security threats and stressed the importance of cooperation among security and law enforcement agencies.
