What was meant to be a sober gathering of stakeholders to deliberate on the worsening insecurity in Katsina State ended in chaos on Tuesday when suspected political thugs stormed the venue, disrupting proceedings and assaulting participants.
The meeting, convened by the Katsina Security Community Initiative, brought together retired military officers, former police chiefs, academics, traditional leaders, and community figures to address the crippling effects of banditry across the state. Discussions centered on the closure of schools, displacement of farmers and herders, and the takeover of several local government areas by criminal gangs.
Trouble began shortly after the convener, Dr. Bashir Kurfi, began outlining the dire consequences of unchecked insecurity. One of the disruptors interrupted him, accusing him of being “anti-government” and claiming that the state administration was already tackling the crisis. Within moments, the situation escalated as the thugs hurled chairs, attacked journalists, and brandished knives, warning participants against speaking ill of the governor. Witnesses reported that some of the thugs were strategically stationed both inside and outside the hall before the fracas began.
Despite the disruption, organizers insisted they would not be silenced. In a press briefing afterwards, they alleged that the attackers had links with the state government and were acting on its behalf. According to them, the government was fully aware of the meeting and even had representatives present during the opening session. They pointed out that a similar session had been held earlier in Abuja, which was attended by the Katsina governor alongside several local government chairmen under the ALGON umbrella.
The violent disruption has drawn widespread condemnation from civil society actors who fear that political interference in discussions around insecurity could worsen the situation in the state. Many stakeholders warned that the attack not only undermined the safety of participants but also sent a dangerous message that constructive criticism and civic engagement would be met with intimidation.
The convener, Dr. Kurfi, vowed that the group would continue its mission to mobilize communities in finding solutions to insecurity. “Our people are suffering, children are out of school, and livelihoods are destroyed. No amount of threats will stop us from speaking the truth,” he said.
Katsina State has remained one of the epicenters of banditry in Nigeria’s Northwest, with repeated calls for urgent interventions from both the federal and state governments.