Katsina Unveils New Armoured Vehicles as Government Intensifies Fight Against Banditry

The Katsina State Government has unveiled eight newly acquired Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), raising its total fleet to 43—the largest in the region—as part of intensified efforts to combat insecurity. Acting Governor Faruk Lawal Jobe presented the vehicles after a State Security Council meeting, reaffirming the government’s determination to defeat banditry.

The launch comes in the wake of a recent bandit attack in Gidan Mantau, Malumfashi Local Government Area, where local resistance helped rescue 76 kidnapped victims. Jobe praised the courage of the community and declared, “The battle against banditry is not over until it is won. We will not be distracted by the cowardly actions of these criminals.”

He disclosed that more than ₦36 billion has so far been invested in security measures, which include equipment upgrades, personnel training, and grassroots initiatives like Community Watch and Vigilante groups. These efforts have reportedly secured four of the state’s eight frontline local government areas.

The acting governor also revealed that the Chief of Army Staff is expected to visit for an on-site evaluation of security challenges, adding that the difficult terrain demands more federal support. Meanwhile, Commissioner for Internal Security, Nasiru Muazu Danmusa, extended condolences to affected families and called on residents to maintain collaboration with security forces through intelligence sharing.