The Senate on Wednesday expressed deep concern over escalating insecurity in Katsina State following renewed bandit attacks that reportedly killed at least 35 people within 24 hours.
The lawmakers called for immediate military and humanitarian intervention in affected communities after deliberating on a motion of urgent public importance concerning the recent ambush of operatives of the Nigeria Police Mobile Force in Bakori Local Government Area. The attack resulted in the death of three police officers, while two others sustained critical injuries.
Presenting the motion, Senator Mohammed Dandutse described the attacks as alarming, citing coordinated assaults across multiple local government areas as of February 3, 2026. According to him, 24 people were killed in Faskari Local Government Area, eight in Dandume, two in Funtua, and one in Kankara within the same period.
Dandutse warned that persistent attacks on rural communities have significantly disrupted agricultural activities, noting that over 50,000 farmlands have reportedly been abandoned due to insecurity. He cautioned that the situation poses serious threats to food security and the livelihoods of residents.
He further recalled that Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, had earlier led a delegation of community leaders from the Funtua Zone to meet President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to discuss the worsening security situation. During the meeting, the President reportedly pledged to establish a military barracks around Malumfashi to combat banditry in the region.
The senator also highlighted concerns about criminal groups exploiting porous borders linking Katsina with parts of Kaduna and Zamfara states, particularly through forest routes in areas such as Machika and Kankara. He stressed the need for stronger inter-state security collaboration to tackle the menace.
Supporting the motion, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin and several other lawmakers commended the efforts of security agencies but insisted that additional manpower, modern technology, and improved intelligence-driven operations were necessary to decisively address the crisis.
Some senators described the affected areas as vital agricultural hubs, producing essential food crops and industrial raw materials such as cotton. They warned that continued insecurity in the region could have severe economic implications for the country.
Senator Aliyu Wadada, while contributing to the debate, cautioned against negotiating with bandits, arguing that such engagements could embolden criminal elements rather than provide lasting solutions.
Following deliberations, the Senate unanimously adopted the motion and urged President Tinubu to expedite the establishment of a military barracks in the affected areas of Katsina State.
The upper chamber also directed the Inspector-General of Police to deploy at least three Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) to the newly established police squadron in the area to strengthen intelligence-led operations, forest combing, cross-border surveillance, and community-based intelligence gathering.
Additionally, the Senate called on security agencies to intensify coordinated operations to eliminate criminal groups operating in Katsina and neighbouring states.
Lawmakers further mandated the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide immediate relief and support to affected communities and victims of the attacks.
The Senate urged residents to remain vigilant, cooperate with security agencies, and reject any form of collaboration with criminal elements. A one-minute silence was also observed in honour of those who lost their lives in the attacks.
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