Nigeria security chiefs call for synergy to combat banditry

Security officials and government leaders in Nigeria are calling for enhanced collaboration to combat terrorism and banditry in the North-West region. At the second North-West Zonal Conference of State Directors of Security in Katsina, the Department of State Services (DSS) emphasized the need for intelligence sharing and synergy between security agencies, traditional authorities, and local communities to address evolving threats.

Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda highlighted the importance of combining kinetic military actions with non-kinetic measures, such as social interventions and strategic media counter-propaganda, to stabilize the region. He noted that increased investment in agriculture and medical care for victims has helped improve stability in areas previously under constant attack.

In a separate focus on national stability, officials in Abuja emphasized that anti-corruption reforms are essential for economic growth. The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, and the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, argued that corruption undermines public trust and investment. They advocated for strengthening institutional systems and digitalizing government processes to prevent abuse, rather than relying solely on arrests and prosecutions.