By:Abdullahi Inuwa
In a powerful declaration that echoed resolve, regional solidarity and moral responsibility, Dikko Umaru Radda, Governor of Katsina State and Chairman of the North-West Governors’ Forum, has charged leaders and citizens of the region to take full ownership of their collective security destiny, declaring that the protection of lives, property and dignity in the North-West is a duty that cannot be outsourced.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony of 2,000 members of the Katsina State Neighbourhood Security Corps (KSNSC), Governor Radda framed the event as far more than a routine passing-out parade. Instead, he described it as a defining moment of regional awakening, unity and shared resolve among the seven North-West states.
“This graduation symbolises a united resolve by the governors of Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Kaduna, Sokoto, Zamfara and Kebbi to defend our region,” Radda declared. “It reflects our shared commitment to confront our security challenges together and to protect our people with courage and responsibility.”
The ceremony, marked by impressive drills, disciplined formations and visible readiness, showcased the growing emphasis on community-based security as a complement to federal security architecture. For Governor Radda, however, the deeper message was political, moral and historical: the North-West must stand together or risk being overwhelmed by forces that thrive on division, fear and neglect.
As Chairman of the North-West Governors’ Forum, Radda spoke not only as a host governor but as a regional voice, stressing that the mandate to govern comes with a sacred obligation to protect. He reminded his audience that leadership is ultimately judged by how well it safeguards human life and communal dignity.
“As governors of the North-West, we carry this responsibility together,” he said. “We have both the mandate and the moral duty to protect our people, preserve their dignity and secure their communities with the strength Allah has placed upon our shoulders.”
In one of the most striking moments of his address, the governor spoke directly to ordinary citizens, stripping the security debate of abstractions and placing it firmly within the realm of communal responsibility.
“Let me speak clearly to our people: no one will come from far away to defend our dignity, our parents and our communities except us ourselves,” Radda stated. “No one will come from Enugu or Port Harcourt to protect the values and safety of our local communities. This responsibility belongs to us.”
The remark, delivered with calm firmness, underscored a growing consensus among North-West leaders that while national support remains important, sustainable security must be rooted in local knowledge, local ownership and regional cooperation.
Observers at the event noted that the graduation of the 2,000 KSNSC members represents a significant boost to grassroots security architecture in Katsina State, particularly in rural and semi-urban communities where conventional security forces are often stretched thin. Trained to work closely with communities, traditional institutions and formal security agencies, the corps is designed to act as an early-warning and rapid-response mechanism against criminal activities.
Governor Radda emphasised that the success of such initiatives depends not only on training and equipment, but also on discipline, accountability and the trust of the people. He urged the newly graduated personnel to see themselves as servants of the people, not as instruments of intimidation.
“You are not graduating to instil fear in your communities, but to protect them,” he told the recruits. “You must act with integrity, humility and respect for the rule of law. The uniform you wear is a symbol of trust, and you must never betray it.”
Beyond Katsina, the governor’s speech resonated as a call for deeper inter-state collaboration in tackling banditry, kidnapping and other trans-border crimes that have plagued the North-West for years. By explicitly naming all seven states, Radda reinforced the idea that insecurity in one state is a threat to all, and that fragmented responses only embolden criminal networks.
Security analysts view this posture as a shift from reactive, state-by-state responses to a more coordinated regional strategy—one that aligns political leadership with community participation and moral clarity.
The event also highlighted Radda’s leadership style, which blends religious consciousness, communal values and pragmatic governance. His repeated invocation of duty, dignity and collective strength reflects an approach that seeks to mobilise not just institutions, but hearts and minds.
As the parade ground slowly emptied and the newly graduated corps members marched out to begin their assignments, the message of the day lingered unmistakably in the air: the North-West is choosing unity over isolation, responsibility over excuses, and courage over complacency.
In the words of Governor Radda, securing the region is not a favour to be awaited from afar—it is a duty to be embraced at home.
Abdullahi Inuwa Social Commentator ainuwa303@gmail.com
