By BANNERNEWS Reporter, Katsina
No fewer than 91 senior military officers drawn from the Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force, alongside participants from The Gambia, Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia, are on a study tour of Katsina State as part of efforts to deepen knowledge on community-based security management and governance strategies.
The officers, who are participants of Senior Course 48 of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, are undertaking the 2026 Nigeria Environmental Study Tour themed, “Promoting Community Engagement for Enhanced National Security and Prosperity.”
Receiving the delegation at Government House, Katsina, Governor Dikko Umaru Radda said the choice of the state for the study tour reflected its growing profile as a model for community-driven security interventions in Nigeria.
Radda noted that security challenges could not be resolved through force alone, stressing that sustainable peace requires broad community participation and coordinated responses among stakeholders.
“Security is not something that can be resolved overnight. It requires a thorough understanding and a coordinated approach. Therefore, lasting peace depends on strong community involvement,” the governor stated.
He explained that his administration adopted a community-based security strategy after identifying manpower and operational gaps within conventional security agencies, especially in remote communities where delayed responses often escalate security incidents.
According to him, the establishment of the Katsina Community Watch Corps has strengthened intelligence gathering, improved rapid response capabilities and restored access to several communities previously threatened by insecurity.
The governor described insecurity in the state as largely criminal, involving banditry, cattle rustling and kidnapping, adding that tackling the menace requires close collaboration among government, security agencies and local communities.
He further highlighted the contributions of traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth groups and other community stakeholders in supporting peace-building and security efforts across the state.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Brigadier General K. Rabiu, said the visit was part of a nationwide study tour aimed at exposing senior military officers to governance and security realities in selected states across the country.
Rabiu explained that the Armed Forces Command and Staff College is a tri-service institution responsible for preparing officers for higher command and staff responsibilities, with participants drawn from Nigeria and allied African countries.
He described Katsina State as an important reference point in community-driven security management, citing the strong synergy between government institutions and local communities in confronting insecurity.
