Victims of banditry, community leaders, security stakeholders, government representatives, civil society organisations and residents have called for stronger security measures and coordinated action to end persistent attacks in Katsina State.
They spoke during a town hall meeting convened by News Central.
The recent meeting provided a platform for victims to recount their experiences, while participants discussed practical solutions to the worsening security situation across affected communities.
One of the victims, Abdullahi Dalla of Daddara community, narrated how he and his brother were abducted by bandits and held captive for 15 days.
Dalla said his brother was killed while in captivity after the kidnappers initially demanded a ransom of N10 million. He explained that his family could only raise N700,000, which secured his release.
Another victim, Muryamu Musa from Kankiya Local Government Area, recounted how her husband was kidnapped on 29 September 2025, while travelling to work and was later killed by his abductors.
She said their last conversation was about visiting her mother before he left home, adding that neighbours had attempted to warn him of the danger, but it was too late.
Participants at the meeting described the devastating effects of banditry, saying the attacks had resulted in loss of lives, displacement of residents, destruction of livelihoods and widespread fear in many communities.
They urged authorities to strengthen intelligence gathering, improve collaboration between local communities and security agencies, provide greater support for victims and implement sustainable peace initiatives to address the root causes of insecurity.
A major highlight of the event was the screening of excerpts from Bandits of Katsina, an investigative documentary produced by News Central and reported by Rukayyah Jibia. The documentary examines the impact of armed violence on communities across Katsina State and features interviews with suspected bandit leaders.
Speaking during the town hall, the Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of News Central, Kayode Akintemi, said ending insecurity required collective responsibility and decisive action from citizens and government.
“When there is insecurity in a country, it is because we have allowed it to happen. We are where we are because of our choices. We must make a decision that this must stop now, and the decision must come from the people,” he said.
Akintemi noted that the Katsina town hall followed similar engagements organised by the broadcaster in Oyo and Benue states as part of efforts to amplify the voices of communities affected by insecurity.
