Angry residents and various youth groups on Sunday took to the streets, effectively shutting down the critical Kano-Katsina highway. The strategic Dayi-Gwarzo corridor was brought to a standstill as community members, fed up with incessant bandit attacks and escalating insecurity, mounted a forceful protest. This drastic action left hundreds of commuters and motorists stranded, highlighting the dire security challenges plaguing parts of North-west Nigeria.
The disruptive demonstration commenced between noon and 1 p.m. at the border communities linking Gwarzo Local Government Area of Kano State and Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State. Protesters, displaying their deep frustration, erected makeshift barricades and chanted defiant slogans, adamantly warning travellers to turn back. They declared that the vital interstate artery would remain closed until their grievances were addressed. A PREMIUM TIMES reporter, who was travelling to Kano, observed the ongoing blockade as protesters steadfastly refused to allow vehicular passage before the reporter’s departure from the scene.
Speaking amidst the protest, an aggrieved youth leader articulated the community’s reasons for resorting to such drastic measures. He recounted a harrowing series of unprovoked raids by armed bandits, emphasizing the profound impact on their daily lives. “Yesterday alone, they came and killed three of our people,” the youth leader lamented, his voice heavy with grief. He further elaborated on the relentless nature of the attacks: “For the past week, these criminals have been attacking us regularly, invading our towns in broad daylight. They ride into our neighbourhoods on motorcycles, act with complete impunity, and steal our livestock in large numbers.”
The protesters collectively expressed profound disillusionment over what they described as the glaring failure of both state and federal security apparatuses to protect their communities. They alleged that despite numerous distress calls made during active attacks, security personnel frequently arrived hours after the assailants had long fled the scene. “A thief will come to your doorstep at four in the afternoon to steal cattle, and when you call the authorities, nobody shows up until 8:00 p.m.,” another resident decried, questioning the efficacy of the security architecture. “Where is the promise of 24-hour security? We can no longer go to our farms, we cannot protect our primary schools, and we are being starved in our own communities. Protesting is our only way to make the government understand the severity of our situation.”
The Dayi-Gwarzo axis is not just a local road; it serves as a major economic lifeline and transit route, connecting agricultural hubs and markets across Nigeria’s North-west geopolitical zone. Local leaders present at the scene of the protest made it clear that the blockade would persist indefinitely until concrete security guarantees are provided and permanent military checkpoints are established. Their core demand is to effectively protect the vulnerable border communities from the escalating menace of banditry, kidnapping, and livestock rustling that has terrorized the region for years.
In an attempt to gather official reactions, PREMIUM TIMES contacted the spokespersons for the respective state police commands. While the Katsina State Police Command’s spokesperson reportedly promised to investigate the matter and provide a response, his Kano State counterpart did not respond to multiple calls and a text message sent to his official line before the publication’s press time. As tension remains palpable along the affected corridor, commuters planning journeys between Kano and Katsina, or even onward to Sokoto, are strongly advised to suspend their travel plans or seek viable alternative routes.
Originally sourced from Premium Times. This article has been rewritten for our readers.
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