Abubakar Muhammad, popularly known as Total, the lawmaker representing Funtua Constituency in the Katsina State House of Assembly, has given insight into why he decided to procure arms for his constituents and train them in weapon handling, saying it is to stop them from using stones to defend themselves against invading bandits who kill, rape and kidnap them for ransom.
Muhammad explained that when bandits attacked Bagari, the villagers fought back, not with rifles but with stones in a desperate stand against constant attacks by the terror groups.
Stating that the reality of villagers hurling stones at gunmen was more than a tragedy, but a wake-up call, he said their brave act stirred up his conscience and inspired a bold decision to better equip the villagers.
Muhammad noted that because of their helplessness, he decided to arm six wards in his constituency, placing the weapons under the supervision of the Community Watch Corps (CWC) and ensuring that residents received training on how to use them responsibly.
“I was troubled when I heard residents use stones to confront bandits; that courage moved me, but it also broke me. It was then I decided to help them with arms,” he said in an interview with RFI.
Over the past months, villages such as Maska, Makera, Ungwan Shanu, and Bagari have endured repeated raids with the survivors telling the lawmaker they had called the Police during the attacks, but by the time security forces arrived, the bandits had gone.
“They told me that if they had guns, they could have reduced the level of destruction,” he recalled. “Their plea stayed with me.”
The lawmaker stressed that the weapons were not handed out indiscriminately, but were placed under the custody of the Community Watch Corps (CWC), who also trained the locals weapon handling.
“My intention is not to militarise the people; it is to give them a fighting chance until security personnel arrive”, he reiterated.
Abubakar Muhammad’s decision reflects a mood shared across Katsina State. In Malumfashi where another deadly attack recently occurred, residents expressed dissatisfaction with security deployments.
Despite the state purchasing eight Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) and the federal government sending additional troops, villagers say the reinforcements remain concentrated in towns, leaving rural communities exposed.
Alhaji Umar Usman of Ungwan Farin Kai said that while the presence of troops has temporarily calmed the situation, the deployment strategy has not reassured locals.
He added that the Senator representing Funtua district, Muktari Dandutse, and other politicians visited them and promised to fix the road networks to improve mobility and access.
The Councillor of Na’alma Ward, Usman A. Usman, lamented that armoured vehicles and security personnel were concentrated in Mararaba Kankara instead of protecting villages directly.
He stressed the need for increased deployment along the Bakori–Funtua road, which bandits frequently exploit.
Similarly, Dr. Bala Hussaini, a lecturer at Umaru Musa Yar’adua University (UMYU), criticised both federal and state authorities for adopting what he called a “reactionary approach.”
He faulted the practice of responding only after attacks occurred, describing it as inconsistent with global best practices.
“The government must not wait until lives are lost and property destroyed before acting. They need to take the fight to the bandits’ hideouts and prevent attacks before they happen,” Dr. Hussaini said.
Katsina State Acting Governor Faruk Lawal-Jobe, while hosting the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, urged the deployment of more ground troops and air operations to tackle rising banditry in the state.
Lawal-Jobe pledged the State’s continued support through intelligence sharing and recruitment of locals to aid security operations.
In response, General Oluyede gave assurance of greater military backing and commended the state for its support to the troops.
He also condoled with victims of recent bandit attacks in Malumfashi, stressing that security is a collective responsibility requiring cooperation between the military, government, and citizens. (Leadership)
