When Acting Governor of Katsina State, Malam Faruk Lawal Jobe, met with Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, in Abuja, his words carried the weight of an entire people’s pain. Rural communities in Katsina have suffered too much—families displaced from their homes, farmers driven from their fields, livelihoods destroyed by banditry. For Jobe, this was not just a political meeting; it was a cry for stronger military support to rescue the dignity and safety of his people.
“Our people deserve to live in safety and dignity,” he said firmly, urging deeper synergy between the Armed Forces and state authorities. His plea was not in vain—General Musa assured him of the military’s commitment to intensify operations until peace returns to Katsina.
Even as this dialogue unfolded at the national level, the Katsina State Government was already on the ground, mourning with its people. In Unguwar Mantau, Malumfashi Local Government Area, a community still shaken by the brutal killing of 32 worshippers during prayers, the Secretary to the Government, Barrister Abdullahi Garba Faskari, led a high-powered delegation. The air was heavy with grief as he spoke:
“This tragedy is deeply painful to us all. But I assure you—government will not relent until justice is served, and peace is restored.”
Alongside him stood the state’s top security chiefs, underscoring a message of unity and resolve. The government did not just bring words of sympathy—it brought immediate support to families of the victims, and a commitment to help the community rebuild from the ashes of sorrow.
But insecurity’s cruelty does not stop at village attacks. Recently, staff of Katsina General Hospital were attacked outside their duty post by criminals. They were not soldiers, not politicians—just ordinary men and women serving humanity. The incident sent shockwaves through the medical community. To reassure them, the Commissioner for Health, Hon. Musa Adamu Funtua, personally visited the hospital. He listened, he consoled, and he promised stronger security measures for health workers across the state. Walking through the wards, he also inspected newly upgraded facilities, a reminder that even in the face of danger, the government remains committed to improving healthcare and protecting those who heal others.
And then, there are the children—the most innocent victims of insecurity. They too have felt the weight of fear, with classrooms disrupted and teachers traumatized. To confront this, the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, in partnership with UNICEF, gathered stakeholders in Katsina to deliberate on the impact of insecurity on learning.
Honourable Commissioner Hajiya Zainab Musa Musawa captured the heart of the matter when she said: “It is the responsibility of every member of the community to promote peace and harmony. Only through collective effort can we secure an environment where our children can learn without fear.”
The findings presented were sobering—poverty, unemployment, drug abuse, and lack of opportunity are fueling the crisis, while schools, teachers, and learners carry the scars. Yet, hope is not lost. Initiatives like SBMCs, PTAs, AGILE, and BESDA are giving children a chance to keep learning, even in the storm.
What emerges from all these efforts is a picture of government that is not turning away, not resigning to fate. Whether through high-level security engagement, consoling grieving families, protecting health workers, or safeguarding children’s right to education, the Katsina State Government under Governor Dikko Umaru Radda is leading a relentless fight against insecurity with both strength and compassion.
The battle is not over. The pain is real, and the challenges are daunting. But one truth is clear: Katsina is refusing to bow. With a government that listens, that mourns with its people, that acts decisively, and that draws strength from partnerships at home and abroad, the state is charting a path toward healing.
And in that journey lies hope—hope that the gunfire will one day fall silent, that prayers will never again be interrupted by bloodshed, and that every child in Katsina will sit in a classroom free of fear.
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