A fresh political storm is brewing in Katsina State as the reported detention of two key security aides to Governor Dikko Umaru Radda in Abuja has triggered concerns over the deepening rivalry within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The governor’s Chief Security Officer (CSO) and Aide-de-Camp (ADC) were reportedly taken into custody at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, where sources said they have remained since Thursday, August 20, 2026.
Their reported detention comes against the backdrop of claims that some security personnel attached to Governor Radda have also been withdrawn, fuelling speculation over a possible escalation of the political battle among rival camps in the Katsina APC.
The development is believed to be connected to a controversial incident involving the destruction of campaign billboards belonging to Ibrahim Kabir Masari, Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Political Matters.
Sources alleged that the governor’s security aides were mentioned in connection with the billboard incident. However, the allegation remains unverified, and no official authority has publicly established any link between the officers and the destruction.
The reported detention has nevertheless sent ripples through political circles in Katsina and Abuja, with observers watching closely as tensions between competing political interests continue to rise.
At the centre of the growing political friction are camps perceived to be loyal to Governor Radda and those associated with Masari and other influential figures within the APC.
The latest development has raised fresh questions about whether the party’s internal power struggle could begin to affect the security architecture surrounding a sitting governor.
Political stakeholders have called for restraint and transparency, warning that partisan disagreements should not be allowed to undermine the safety and official functions of the Katsina governor.
They have also urged the Nigeria Police Force to explain the circumstances surrounding the reported detention of the CSO and ADC, as well as claims concerning the withdrawal of security personnel assigned to Governor Radda.
Despite the growing speculation, there was no official confirmation from either the Katsina State Government or the Nigeria Police Force regarding the reported detention as of the time of filing this report.
The allegations surrounding the billboard destruction also remain unproven.
The incident has, however, added a dramatic new chapter to Katsina’s unfolding political contest, coming barely months into preparations for the 2027 general elections.
With rival camps increasingly asserting their influence, the reported detention of the governor’s security aides has become a major talking point—and a development likely to intensify scrutiny of the political battle lines within the Katsina APC.
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