Governor says Yaumul Shukur reminds Katsina people to thank Allah, seek His protection and remain united

By Sadiq Abdulfatah

Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, has called on residents to turn to Allah in prayers for lasting peace and avoid politicising the state’s security challenges.

Speaking during the 2026 Yaumul Shukur (Thanksgiving Day) held on Saturday to mark the 1934 merger of the former Katsina and Daura Provinces, the governor said insecurity should unite the people rather than divide them along political lines.

Radda described Yaumul Shukur as more than an annual celebration, saying it is a tradition established by the state’s forefathers to express gratitude to Allah and seek His continued protection over Katsina.

He urged residents to support security agencies through cooperation and prayers, stressing that restoring peace is a collective responsibility.

The governor noted that Katsina has produced many distinguished sons and daughters who have contributed to national development. He paid tribute to former Presidents Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Muhammadu Buhari, eminent jurists including Justices Muhammadu Bello, Mamman Nasir and Umaru Abdullahi, as well as generations of Islamic scholars whose lives were marked by integrity and justice.

According to him, governments may change, but Katsina belongs to all its people and must be protected through unity and shared commitment.

Radda said the state had strengthened its security efforts by recruiting, training and equipping the Katsina State Community Watch Corps to work alongside conventional security agencies in protecting lives and property.

He also commended the military, police and the Community Watch Corps for recent joint operations that resulted in the killing of more than 40 bandits, including a notorious kingpin.

The governor cautioned politicians and other stakeholders against exploiting the deaths of innocent people for political purposes, stressing that the sanctity of human life must always come first.

Also speaking, the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Faruk Umar, urged residents to preserve the values of unity and brotherhood handed down by the founding fathers of Katsina and Daura.

Source: Daily Trust