Zaharaddeen Ishaq Abubakar, Katsina Times 

In Katsina, the issue of theft has escalated from stealing personal and commercial property to targeting government assets. According to youth activist Muhammad Aminu Kabir, no location is safe from this menace, as thieves take advantage of any opportunity to steal metal objects, regardless of the consequences.

Recent images reveal how roundabouts leading to Kano and NAK or Luna within Katsina City have not been spared from these acts of vandalism. Pipes and rods originally intended to beautify the city have become targets for scrap metal thieves, even extending to structures like those at Katsina's main hospital.

This highlights the growing threat faced by government property not only in Katsina City but across the entire state. Kabir pointed out that electric cables along Nagogo Road and metal components from the Kofar Durbi bridge have been stolen without any fear of repercussions.

There is an urgent need for the relevant authorities to step up efforts to protect government and public property. Given the current situation, where no neighborhood or area in Katsina City is immune from these metal thieves—even to the point of breaking into homes to steal gates and other iron objects—the crisis is severe. Some northern governors, including those in Borno and Gombe, have responded by banning the scrap metal trade entirely in their states.