Security Expert Calls For Overhaul Of Northwest Security Strategy

KATSINA: Brigadier-General Sani Kukasheka Usman (rtd), former Director of Army Public Relations, has expressed the need for a total overhaul of the region’s public safety approach to address its security challenges.

Gen Kukasheka who made this observation at a two-day retreat for Katsina State government officials and security experts in Kaduna at the weekend stressed the need for a shift from traditional security measures.

“Katsina State, like many others in the northwest, faces severe security challenges, including banditry, kidnapping, and herder-farmer conflicts. These issues threaten governance, economic growth, and social stability”.

He added that, addressing these issues required a blend of security operations, peacebuilding strategies, and conflict management mechanisms.

While applauding the initiatives of Governor Dikko Umaru Radda’s administration, which includes the establishment of a community watch corps and a dedicated security ministry, Gen. Kukasheka said that there is need for a broader strategy.

“We need to move beyond just policing. We need economic programmes that give young people alternatives to crime. We need traditional leaders and religious groups at the table. And we need intelligence gathering that helps us stay ahead of threats,” he opined.

“Security isn’t just about guns and guards. It’s about good governance. It’s about giving people hope and opportunities. And most importantly, it’s about bringing everyone together to find lasting solutions”, the retired army general concluded.

Frank Nweke ll, a former Minister of Information, on his part, called for a transformative leadership culture in Katsina State, adding that, any kind of leadership that does not improve the human condition is not leadership, but simply occupying a seat.

Drawing inspiration from one of Nigeria’s most celebrated public servants, late Dr Dora Akunyili, the former minister praised her transformative leadership at NAFDAC – from a corruption-riddled agency into a respected institution that saved countless lives from fake drugs.

Nweke urged Katsina State officials to prioritize public interest above all else, saying, “Dr. Akunyili didn’t just manage NAFDAC, she revolutionized it, fired corrupt officials, strengthened enforcement, built partnerships and most importantly, showed that transformation is possible when leaders put public interest first,”.

On the challenges facing Katsina State, Nweke identified corruption, resistance to change, and poor motivation as significant obstacles. According to him, “These aren’t just words on a page. They’re roadblocks keeping our children from quality education, our families from decent healthcare, our communities from basic security.”

He therefore advocated for a five-point plan with focus on integrity in decision-making, leading by example, empowering staff through training, using data-driven policy, and breaking down departmental silos.

The two-day retreat which started from Thursday, February 20th to Friday, February 21st, 2025, aimed to equip top-level executive members of the Katsina State Government with strategies for addressing the state’s pressing challenges.