North-West insecurity: Gov Radda, DSS DG call for stronger security collaboration

Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda and Director-General of the Department of State Services, Oluwatosin Ajayi, have urged for enhanced collaboration among security forces, government entities, and local communities to combat terrorism, banditry, and other criminal acts in the North-West region. During the second North-West zonal conference of State Directors of Security, organized by the DSS in Katsina, they emphasized the need for a unified approach to address the area's security issues.

Radda, represented by Deputy Farouk Jobe, highlighted Katsina's progress in security, noting a reduction in attacks from 26 local government areas upon his administration's arrival to a more manageable number. He attributed the improvement to a mix of direct actions and non-military strategies. The governor stressed the importance of community intelligence and cautioned against exaggerated reporting, which could erode public trust and potentially aid the criminals.

Ajayi, speaking through his deputy Husseini Abubakar, echoed the call for coordinated efforts. He pointed out the conference as a platform for stakeholders to evaluate new threats, exchange operational insights, and devise tactics to curb terrorism and banditry. Ajayi also pointed out the DSS's efforts to enhance the skills of its personnel to better handle emerging security challenges, underlining the necessity for synergy among various security and law enforcement agencies to effectively tackle the security challenges in the North-West.