The Senate on Wednesday expressed grave concern over escalating bandit attacks in Katsina State, following reports that at least 35 people were killed within 24 hours across multiple local government areas. The resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by Senator Mohammed Dandutse regarding the recent ambush of operatives of the Nigeria Police Mobile Force in Bakori LGA, where three officers were killed and two others critically injured.
According to Dandutse, 24 people were killed in Faskari, eight in Dandume, two in Funtua, and one in Kankara. He warned that the persistent violence has severely disrupted agricultural activities, with more than 50,000 farmlands reportedly abandoned due to insecurity, threatening food production and livelihoods in the state.
The senator recalled that Governor Dikko Radda had earlier led a delegation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who pledged to establish a military barracks around Malumfashi to strengthen security operations. Dandutse also highlighted porous borders linking Katsina with Kaduna and Zamfara states, which he said bandits exploit to carry out attacks, stressing the need for enhanced interstate security coordination.
Contributing to the debate, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin and other lawmakers called for increased troop deployment, improved intelligence gathering, and modern equipment for security agencies. Senator Aliyu Wadada cautioned against negotiating with bandits, arguing that such moves could embolden criminal groups.
Following deliberations, the Senate urged the President to expedite the establishment of the proposed military barracks and called on the Inspector-General of Police to equip the new police squadron with at least three Armoured Personnel Carriers. The chamber also directed the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and NEMA to provide relief to affected communities, observing a minute’s silence in honour of the victims.
