Buhari Flees Katsina Due to Insecurity, Despite Claims of Outperforming Obasanjo and Jonathan

Former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has reportedly left his home state of Katsina due to rising insecurity, despite previously asserting that his administration performed better than those of former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan in tackling the nation’s security challenges.

Buhari, who returned to Daura, Katsina State, after completing his tenure in May 2023, has now relocated to a more secure location following a surge in attacks by bandits and insurgents in the region. Katsina, like several northern states, has been plagued by kidnappings, killings, and raids by armed groups, making daily life increasingly perilous for residents.

During his presidency, Buhari frequently touted his government’s success in reducing the activities of Boko Haram and other criminal groups, insisting that Nigeria was safer under his watch than during the administrations of his predecessors. However, recent events suggest otherwise, as banditry and insurgency remain rampant across several states, including Katsina, Zamfara, Niger, and Kaduna.

Sources close to Buhari revealed that his decision to leave Katsina was influenced by escalating security threats around his residence, despite the heavy deployment of security personnel in the area. Reports indicate that bandits have been carrying out attacks with increasing boldness, even targeting villages near Daura, the former president’s hometown.

This development has sparked widespread reactions, with critics arguing that Buhari’s departure underscores the failure of his administration’s security policies. Many Nigerians have taken to social media to question how a former president, who once claimed to have improved security, now finds his own home state uninhabitable due to violence.

Meanwhile, security experts have warned that the worsening insecurity in Katsina and other parts of the North signals a deeper national crisis. They argue that if immediate and decisive actions are not taken, the situation could further deteriorate, putting more communities at risk.

As the Nigerian government under President Bola Tinubu grapples with ongoing security challenges, the irony of Buhari’s exit from his home state due to the very issue he claimed to have resolved continues to be a subject of heated debate.