A security meeting in Katsina State was Tuesday disrupted by a group of men and youths suspected to be thugs shortly after it began. The Katsina incident occurred just days after a similar attack on former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami. Similar incidents of violence were also recorded in Kogi and Jigawa states.
The Tuesday meeting which was organised by the Katsina Security Community Initiative was aimed at finding solution to the insecurity problem bedevilling the state. Katsina has been under banditry attacks for sometime, with many people killed and property worth billions destroyed.
However, this attack came as the state governor, Dikko Umar Radda, led stakeholders to meet with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The leaders, it was gathered, met with the president behind closed doors.
The Katsina Security Community Initiative meeting brought together experts from various fields, including retired high-ranking military and police officers, academics, and opinion leaders, Daily Trust gathered.
However, trouble started when the convener, Dr. Bashir Kurfi, began his overview of the state’s security situation. He noted that some local government areas (LGAs) were “more or less shut down,” with economic activities like farming and animal rearing significantly disrupted and schools closed or occupied by bandits.
As he was highlighting the implications of the situation, one of the men stood up and interrupted him. The man claimed the state government was doing everything to address the problem and described Kurfi’s remarks as “anti-government,” which they would not allow to continue.
The men accused the conveners of failing to hold a similar meeting during the previous administration of Governor Aminu Bello Masari and labelled them “enemies of the present administration.”
When the interrupter was asked to wait for the general comments section, other disruptors sprang up, and the scene became chaotic. They began throwing chairs and even attacked some journalists covering the event.
According to Daily Trust, some of the thugs were stationed both inside and outside the venue; with some brandishing knives and threatening to harm anyone they considered an “enemy of the governor.”
‘This incident won’t affect us’, says convener
Speaking to reporters at a different location after the gathering was dispersed, the convener, Dr Kurfi, said they would proceed with the meeting regardless of the disruption. They accused the government of sponsoring the attack, claiming the protesters were not only known to be affiliated with the government but had allegedly confessed that they were acting on its behalf.
The convener expressed surprise, noting that the government had been informed of the meeting and was even part of the process from the beginning.
“The whole idea of the meeting was to connect with communities on how best we can address this problem of bloodshed in our state,” he said. “We are not here to castigate the government or whoever. The fact of the matter is that as elites in the state, we have a responsibility to address something that will affect the lives of our people, and that is exactly what we are after.”
He added, “We had the first meeting in Abuja and we informed the governor, where we asked him to send his representatives. About 10 local government chairmen, led by the state ALGON chairman, were there on behalf of the government. We had our second meeting in Kaduna, and these same local government chairmen were there. Two of them were even co-opted as members of the secretariat for whatever report we will give at the end. Unfortunately, these same chairmen were here with us in Katsina.”
When contacted for comment, the state Commissioner for Information and Culture, Dr. Bala Salisu Zango, said he was not aware of the event or the disruption, therefore, could not comment. A message sent to the governor’s Director-General of Media, Maiwada Dammallam, was not answered at the time of publication.
‘Tinubu orders security reinforcement for Katsina’
In a statement last night after the Abuja meeting between the Katsina stakeholders and Tinubu, Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed, who is the chief press secretary to the Katsina governor, said the president had ordered immediate security reinforcement for Katsina State following a high-level meeting with Governor Radda and a powerful delegation seeking urgent federal intervention over increasing insecurity in the State.
He said: “The President directed all security agencies to review their strategies and deploy additional air drones while authorizing troop redeployment between Katsina and other boundary areas to tackle banditry head-on.”
According to the statement, Tinubu had during the meeting said: “Today, I have directed all the security agencies to energize further, to look at the strategy again. Additional deployment of air drones, and if they have to shift movement in between Katsina and other boundary areas, they should do so. And they are going to give me a feedback by tomorrow,” President Tinubu declared during the crucial meeting.
The President acknowledged the severity of the security challenges facing the country, stating: “What is happening in the country, the security challenges that we have is surmountable. Yes, we have a very poor border. We inherited the weaknesses which will have been conquered and buried earlier on. But it is a challenge that we have got to face, and we are facing it.”
The statement said President Tinubu assured the delegation that ground troops would intensify operations to eliminate criminal elements, promising: “So the ground troops are there. We will still smoke them out.”
The President also revealed plans for establishing state police as part of a holistic approach to security challenges.
“We must protect our children, our people, our livelihood, our places of worship, our places of recreation. They can’t intimidate us,” the president was quoted as saying.
Speaking during the high-level stakeholders meeting, Governor Radda expressed profound gratitude to President Tinubu for his open-door policy and unwavering support to Katsina State, noting that every request presented to the President had consistently received approval.
“Mr. President has truly shown himself as a son of Katsina. We remain grateful for the continued concern over our security challenges,” the Governor said.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Emir of Katsina, represented by the Waziri of Katsina, Senator Ibrahim Ida, urged the President to order greater synergy among security agencies and establish a military battalion alongside a mobile police squadron in southern Katsina.
He revealed that Katsina State Government had invested over N40 billion in security logistics and support for federal agencies despite limited resources, appealing for federal restitution and victim support.
The high-powered delegation included Deputy Governor Katsina State, Malam Faruq Lawal Jobe; Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Nasir Yahaya Daura; former Governor Aminu Bello Masari; the three serving Senators from Katsina State; Members of the House of Representatives representing the state.
Also in the delegation are Engr. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, Minister of Works and Housing, and Barr. Hannatu Musa Musawa, Minister of Art, Culture, and the Creative Economy.
Others are Hajia Hadiza Bala Usman, Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination; Jabiru Salisu Tsauri, the National Coordinator AUDA-NEPAD Nigeria; Members of the Katsina State Executive Council; Emir of Daura, HRH Alhaji Umar Faruq Umar; Malam Yakubu Musa (Sautus Sunnah);Alh.Tukur Jikamshi former Deputy Governor of Katsina State Malam Gambo, the Chief Imam of the Central Mosque Katsina and business tycoon Alhaji Dahiru Barau Mangal also present at the meeting.
The meeting, according to the statement, was another strategic step to end the banditry terrorizing communities in State and the Northwest region.
APC, ADC trade words over attack on Malami in Kebbi
The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kebbi State are at odds over the alleged attack on former minister of justice, Abubakar Malami, in Birnin Kebbi on Monday.
At a press briefing in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday, APC state chairman Abubakar Muhammad Kana Zuru, dismissed claims that APC thugs attacked Malami’s convoy. Instead, Zuru accused the former minister of hiring thugs from Sokoto to cause unrest in Kebbi.
“The former minister travelled by road from Sokoto to Birnin Kebbi in a convoy dominated by hired armed thugs from Sokoto, bearing cutlasses, swords, and other sharp objects,” Zuru said. “He moved from Lambar Gwandu to Ambursa and entered Birnin Kebbi with the thugs. They destroyed our billboards, and when Malami was returning from a condolence visit, he violated the one-way traffic rule for his thugs to attack the APC secretariat. His security details even fired gunshots at us during the Zuhur prayer. There could have been casualties.”
However, ADC chairman in Kebbi State, Engineer Safiyanu Bala, countered Zuru’s account, insisting the attack was politically motivated and directly targeted at Malami.
“We call on the police to investigate the attack on our leader and do justice to him. ADC is a peaceful party; our supporters are peace-loving people. I urge them to remain calm and allow the police to do their work,” Bala said.
Earlier, Malami claimed that thugs from the APC office launched an unprovoked attack on his convoy. He explained that his visit to Kebbi was not for political reasons but to condole with the family of a late imam.
“It’s a painful act clearly linked to politics. Some thugs came out from the APC state headquarters armed with dangerous weapons and stones, attacking and destroying our convoy,” Malami said.
Speaking to his supporters, Malami urged them not to feel intimidated. “We have the right to defend ourselves if pushed. Islamically, we have the right to defend ourselves if attacked. Whosoever oppresses us, we have a way of self-defence.”
He added, “As you all know, the executive governor announced that from May 29 this year, he has already opened his political book. The time has come. They have opened their books and we have started reading from it. People should come out and play politics without retreat or surrender.”
The APC chairman maintained that Malami, as a former justice minister, acted in “gross violation of the law.” “He knows INEC has not lifted the ban on political campaigns, yet he violated traffic rules and instigated thugs to attack the APC secretariat,” Zuru said. He called for a full investigation and punishment for the perpetrators while urging APC members to remain calm and law-abiding.
The state commissioner of police, Sani M. Bello, told journalists after a security meeting convened by Governor Nasir Idris that no arrests had been made, but investigations were ongoing.
ADC meeting disrupted in Kaduna
A meeting of African Democratic Congress (ADC) leaders in Kaduna was also disrupted by suspected thugs who invaded the venue at NUT Endwell Hotel at the weekend. The thugs smashed window glass and threw chairs at participants
Attendees complained that the disruption happened despite the presence of police officers deployed to maintain order. Daily Trust learned that some people were injured when the suspected thugs threw stones.
Former Governor Nasir El-Rufai, who was at the venue to inaugurate a transition committee alongside ADC’s North West Vice Chairman Jafaru Sani and other chieftains, accused the ruling party of being behind the attack.
In an interview with Channels Television, El-Rufai alleged that the Kaduna State government was responsible and that police on the scene did nothing to stop the chaos. While waiting for the outcome of the police investigation, he said he would submit a petition to the Inspector-General of Police and the Police Service Commission.
“It is at the root of the failure of our policing system,” he alleged. El-Rufai also asked authorities to act to prevent Nigerians from resorting to self-help, a situation he said would not be good for the country. “The police were there; I don’t know what they are investigating,” he said.
He continued, “The attempt by the police to issue a statement implying that we as a political party would invite thugs to invade and disrupt our event is a sure sign that our policing system has collapsed. We no longer have thinking people like my former course mate, Solomon Arase, in the police. A gentleman, may his soul rest in peace. We used to have policemen. Now, we have shadows of the police.”
El-Rufai stressed his right to associate freely. “No one can abridge my right of association. No one can ask me to give any notice. I can give if I choose. It is not a legal or a constitutional requirement, and people should stop overreaching themselves just because they have a position today. I was governor of that state for eight years. Never at any time did I stop any opposition party from having meetings or say that venues should not allow meetings to take place. This is an overreach.”
He also addressed questions about his membership in the coalition. “I am not just a member of the ADC; I am one of the leaders of the coalition. I am one of those that worked to bring this thing together.”
However, the APC distanced itself from the incident. The party’s state secretary in Kaduna, Yahaya Baba-Pate, insisted the ruling party had no hand in the disruption.
“As I always say, APC is a law-abiding political party. We don’t engage in thuggery and we don’t support thuggery. We believe in the tenets of democracy. We can never belittle ourselves and engage in such an unlawful act. My appeal to the people is to continue to be law-abiding and to continue to support our government, the government of Uba Sani, and APC in general,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Police Command said it had launched an investigation. In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan noted that the gathering was held “without security notification despite warnings.”
“Preliminary findings indicate that the gathering led to a clash, during which thugs and political gangsters attached to the former governor allegedly fired gunshots, causing chaos and disruption of public order and peace in the state,” he said. The PPRO warned owners of hotels and event centres against hosting unauthorised political meetings without notifying security agencies.
Party secretariat invaded in Kogi
Men suspected to be party thugs vandalised the African Democratic Congress (ADC) office in Abejukolo, Omala Local Government Area, on Saturday night. According to locals, no suspects were arrested.
The Chairman of the Omala LGA chapter of ADC, Odaudu Ojonimi Friday, condemned the invasion. “Unknown persons, under the cover of darkness, forcefully gained access to the premises and maliciously destroyed valuable property, including tables, chairs, party documents, and flags,” he said. “This act is not only criminal but also a direct attack on democracy, peace, and the values our party represents. Political differences should never be expressed through violence or destruction. We urge our members and supporters to remain calm, law-abiding, and not to retaliate in any form.”
He added that the ADC “remains resolute in its commitment to democratic principles, peaceful engagement, and the pursuit of a better future for our people,” stressing that “no act of intimidation or vandalism will deter us from serving the citizens of Kogi State.”
The party has called on security agencies to investigate the incident, bring the perpetrators to justice, and ensure that such acts do not happen again. The Kogi police command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP William Aya, did not respond to calls or text messages about the incident.
5 years after death of PDP women leader
This is not the first incident of political violence in Kogi State. About six years ago, 60-year-old Salome Acheju Abuh was killed in her home in Ochadamu, Ofu Local Government Area. Mrs. Abuh, a PDP women leader and coordinator of the Wada/Aro Governorship Campaign Council, was reportedly trapped in her home and set ablaze by suspected political thugs.
The incident occurred on November 18, 2019, after the November 16, 2019 governorship election. The suspected thugs reportedly invaded her home, locked all exits, and poured petrol before setting the house on fire. They also allegedly shot sporadically to scare off locals who tried to rescue her and kept watch until the building was razed. Mrs. Abuh reportedly attempted to escape through a window but was prevented by the metal burglar-proof bars and bullets. The then police spokesman, William Aya, confirmed the incident, saying it was a case of culpable homicide and mischief.
Factional APC rally interrupted in Jigawa
In Jigawa State, political thugs on Sunday disrupted a rally organised by the Kafin-Hausa community to honour APC chieftain Zakari Sidi Kafin-Hausa and declare support for President Bola Tinubu, ahead of the 2027 election.
The event, held in Kafin-Hausa Local Government Area and attended by the APC National Financial Secretary, Bashir Gumel, turned violent when factional supporters allegedly invaded the venue, injuring several people and vandalising vehicles.
Politicians at the event, mostly associates of former governor and current Defence Minister, Muhammad Badaru, praised the community for recognising Alhaji Sidi’s philanthropic activities. Sidi told newsmen afterward that the gathering was also intended to reaffirm support for President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, but “intruders later invaded the venue with arms, attacking people.”
He said the rally brought together APC members and supporters of Badaru who are “working vigorously” for Tinubu’s re-election. However, a faction loyal to Governor Umar Namadi viewed the rally as an affront, particularly as Namadi also hails from Kafin-Hausa.
“The sponsored hoodlums’ attack came after the dignitaries had left the venue,” Sidi lamented. “Initially, the event was supposed to be held on Saturday but was shifted to Sunday to avoid confrontation. Yet they attacked our supporters, injuring many innocent people and vandalising their properties.”
Police spokesperson in Jigawa, Lawan Shiisu Adam, could not be reached for comment.
Sunday’s gathering was the first parallel APC rally in Jigawa, openly declaring support for President Tinubu, without the endorsement of Governor Namadi.
It’s bad omen ahead 2027 – Experts
According to the National President of Nigerian Political Science Association (NPSA), Professor Hassan Saliu, while the situation is disturbing, it’s not strange.
“Violence has always been part of Nigeria’s electoral process and all efforts to tame it have not worked. It’s an exhibition of the characteristics of the Nigeria political system.
“Ideally, democracy should be a platform for self-marketing of one’s programmes and activities. But because of the low level of our politics culture, we have prioritised things that are not important and not development driven,” he said.
He said “As long as we have a nation where nothing seems to work or thrive as politics, we should expect to see all kinds of things like this on the political scene. This is an indication of what we are likely to see as we approach 2027”.
For his part, Prof Kamilu Fage attributed the situation to the economic situation in the country and the deliberate intent to disrupt the political process by some politicians
“Hardship is causing anger. Any person they associate with they tend to be very aggressive towards them. Secondly, the issue is that there are thugs being sponsored by politicians for their own selfish interests to disrupt the opposition.
“This violence portends danger for the coming election because if it continues like this, there is the tendency to have what we call a copycat syndrome across the country and by the time the election comes, it will be so strong that it may not be easily controlled”, he said.
He advised the government to prioritise the welfare and the well-being of Nigerians in terms of hunger, security, poverty, inflation and unemployment, rather than focusing on devaluation, subsidy removal and taxation among others “to calm the tension”.
He noted that there is the need to desist from early campaigns to avoid overheating the polity.
Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics and a political scientist with Al-Hikmah University, Ilọrin, Dr Sikiru Lanre Nurudeen, described the situation as a bad omen ahead of the coming election.
“Although, nobody has fingered any politicians, one can easily read between the lines that most of the thugs involved in these attacks are sponsored in an attempt to intimidate the opposition elements.
“Thuggery is not new in Nigeria’s political system. The high level of unemployment has made some youths easy recruits. Until we are able to engage the people productively, the trend will continue for mere pittance
“Nigeria should not encourage it. We should allow elections to go smoothly and for the will of the people to prevail,” he said.
DAILY TRUST.
