Governor Dikko Umaru Radda has signed an executive order aimed at curbing rising cases of street thuggery and gang violence in Katsina State. The directive, titled Miscreant Activities (Suppression) Order, 2026, establishes a legal and institutional framework to prevent, control and prosecute criminal gangs, popularly known as Kauraye. Announcing the move at the Government House on Tuesday, Radda said it followed increasing incidents of violence, public disorder and youth involvement in crime, particularly in urban areas.

He declared a zero-tolerance stance against lawlessness. At the core of the order is the creation of the Katsina State Kauraye and Thuggery Suppression Task Force, a multi-agency outfit mandated to tackle the menace. The task force comprises personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), alongside state-backed outfits and local government authorities.

Radda said the body is empowered to identify and dismantle criminal networks, conduct intelligence-driven operations, arrest suspects and ensure swift prosecution. He added that it would intensify surveillance in crime-prone areas, seize dangerous weapons and collaborate with communities. To fast-track justice, the governor also approved the establishment of mobile courts.