Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, on Monday summoned an emergency meeting of the state security council at the Government House in Katsina following a fresh surge of bandit assaults in some parts of the state.
The meeting came a day after bandits killed two civilians and a police officer during attacks along the Karadua–Musawa Road in Matazu Local Government Area.
The incident happened on Sunday when bandits allegedly barricaded the road and fired at a moving Volkswagen Golf vehicle, killing two passengers instantly.
In a statement on Monday, the Katsina State Police Command, through its spokesman, DSP Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, said a combined team made up of police officers, military personnel, members of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps, and local vigilantes was dispatched to the area after a distress call.
Sadiq-Aliyu said the bandits later regrouped and attempted to launch an assault on the Musawa Police Division but were pushed back after an intense exchange of gunfire, preventing them from taking over the station. He added that one police officer died during the confrontation while defending the facility.
Although details of the Monday security meeting were not made public, sources said deliberations focused on addressing the renewed wave of bandit attacks in several communities.
The closed-door meeting, which lasted for hours, brought together heads of security agencies, chairmen of affected local government areas, and other key stakeholders to assess the worsening security situation and plan immediate countermeasures.
Representatives of the Nigerian Army, Defence Headquarters, and the Department of State Services were present, alongside officials of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Immigration Service, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
Also in attendance were representatives of the Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Road Safety Corps, Federal Fire Service, and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and other senior government officials also took part in the discussions.
