Northwest unites against terrorism, seeks improved welfare for security personnel     

The agenda was disclosed Thursday at the second quarter of 2026 North-West Zonal Conference of State Directors of Security, held in Katsina. 
 
Declaring the Second Quarter 2026 North-West Zonal Conference open, Katsina state Governor Dikko Umar Radda  said security had improved tremendously due to coordinated approach among conventional security agencies and community-based security.

The conference, themed “Unite Against Terror”, brought together security chiefs and other stakeholders from across the Northwest to review emerging security threats and develop coordinated strategies to counter terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other forms of criminality.

Radda, who is the Chairman of the Northwest Governors’ Forum and Special Guest of Honour at the conference, was represented by his deputy, Faruk Jobe.

Jobe recalled that when the present administration assumed office in 2023, at least 26 local government areas in the state were experiencing persistent attacks by bandits, with kidnapping and ransom demands becoming increasingly worrisome.

He said the situation had changed considerably as a result of improved collaboration among security agencies and the deployment of community-based security initiatives.

“Our problem in the Northwest zone is common, and our approach should be common. We should have synergy and collaboration among all the security forces,” he said.

The deputy governor commended conventional security agencies for their sacrifices and cooperation, noting that Katsina had, for the first time, achieved stronger synergy among the various security formations, supported by the state’s Community Watch Corps.

According to him, the salaries of ward and village heads had also been reviewed, while district heads were elevated to a remuneration level equivalent to Grade Level 16 in the civil service.

 According to Radda, “improving the morale of security personnel remains essential to defeating insecurity.

“Security forces need to be encouraged, and their morale needs to be improved in approaching the issue of insecurity. Stakeholders need to embark on propaganda to win the war against terror.”

The governor also called on the media to play a greater role in supporting the fight against terrorism, warning against the indiscriminate dissemination of information.

He noted that the proliferation of citizen journalism had made it necessary for journalists and members of the public to exercise greater responsibility in determining what constitutes news and how sensitive security information is reported.

…Coordinator’s remarks

The Chief Host and State Director of Security, Katsina State Command, Alhassan Iliasu, said the conference provided an important platform for intelligence-led organisations across the Northwest to review existing security challenges and develop renewed counter-terrorism strategies.

Iliasu said the theme was appropriate because the fight against terrorism could not be left to security agencies alone, stressing that the entire society had a role to play.

He said Katsina had already pioneered community-based responses to security challenges, which, according to him, had contributed significantly to the reduction of insecurity in the state.

According to him, the conference would produce a communiqué to serve as a roadmap for security agencies in strengthening counter-terrorism operations against banditry, kidnapping and related criminal activities across the Northwest.

He also acknowledged the contributions of retired senior officers of the DSS, saying their experience and continued support had strengthened intelligence gathering and security operations.
…Commissioner for Home Affairs’ remarks
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Nasiru Danmusa, described the conference as timely, particularly given the interconnected security challenges confronting the Northwest.

Danmusa urged the conference to critically examine the different causes and manifestations of terrorism and criminality across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones.

He argued that security challenges in the Northeast, where insurgency is largely driven by ideology, differ from those in the Northwest, where banditry, kidnapping and cattle rustling are more closely linked to socio-economic and political factors.

He therefore called for homegrown approaches tailored to the peculiar circumstances of each region.
…CP Fage, Gen. Ibrahim
Also, the Katsina state Commissioner of Police, Aliyu Fage, said the Police and the DSS had maintained consistent intelligence-sharing arrangements since his assumption of office.

Fage disclosed that the two agencies exchanged intelligence and security information for several hours daily, stressing that the cooperation had enhanced their ability to respond to threats.

The Commander of 17 Brigade, Katsina, Brigadier-General Ishaya Ibrahim, and the Commander of 213 Forward Operating Base of the Nigerian Air Force also described the conference as significant.

They reaffirmed the commitment of the military and other security agencies to protecting lives and property, while calling for stronger partnerships and timely interventions among security formations.

They stressed that security personnel must see one another as partners and work together to multiply the impact of their operations.

The Emir of Katsina was represented at the conference by the Marafan Katsina, Aminu Marafa, while the Emir of Daura, HRH Umar Umar, was represented by the Diddirin Daura, Ahmad Ahmadu.

The traditional institutions described the conference as a major step towards degrading terrorism and other forms of criminality in the Northwest.

They also called for decisive action against informants and collaborators who provide intelligence and logistical support to bandits and terrorists.

In his address, the Chairman of the Northwest Forum of State Directors of Security, Hussaini Abubakar, said the conference would provide an opportunity for security chiefs to exchange experiences and strengthen the existing synergy among enforcement agencies.