The Role of Da’wah in Enhancing National Security: A Case Study of Katsina Banditry

Abstract

Da’wah in Islam, in addition to its main missionary role, has the potential of creating as well as entrenching peace and harmony, thereby establishing and realizing a sober society. These two are attested to be the major requirements for security to abound.  Contemporary Nigeria is enmeshed in various waves of turmoil and insecurity. This includes, among several others, subsistence security, which is represented in the provision of food and medicine or psychological and emotional security, through which peace of mind and happiness is realized. This paper, eliciting data through document analysis and interviews, attempts to examine the role of Islamic Da’wah in enhancing security, taking Katsina State as a case study. The paper reveals that ignorance of Islam, on one hand, and failure of Muslim missionaries to extend Da’wah activities beyond the urban areas into rural and bush settlements, coupled with lack of proper method of the Da’wah modus operandi, are some of the potential and remote causes of current insecurity in Katsina State. Research of this type could help in providing a lasting solution to the menace of banditry and abductions which bedevils not only Katsina State but the entire country. The paper adopts descriptive analytic inductive method, at the same time case study method will be applied. Therefore, the paper discussed the concept of Da’wah and its role for enhancing National security. The paper also discussed Bandits in Katsina State. The role of Da’wah to solve the problems of insecurity in the state. The paper recommends among other things; the need to increase the number of Da’wah volunteers and organization who will extend their services to reach urban, bushes and remote villages; there is also need to create a Da’wah commission to help and facilitate da’wah activities without difficulties; there is also need for scholars to realize the fact that the burden of spreading the message and knowledge lies on their shoulders and lastly not the least, the Muslim Ummah should also give more financial support to Da’wah organizations to carry out their activities without any financial challenge.