Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State has directed the Secretary to the State Government (SGS) to arrange for him and security chiefs to meet suspected bandits at their hideouts to dialogue with them for peace, even as he read the riot act to ruthlessly deal with them, their accomplices and informants to forcefully end the spate of murderous banditry in some parts of the state, the suspects are allegedly responsible for.
Security chiefs in the state were also one with the Governor in sounding out serious warning to those involved in banditry, calling on them to embrace peace or face the wrath and might of the Federal Government.
These positions were taken at an extraordinary security meeting held in Katsina on Wednesday, with Governor Masari, his Deputy Alhaji Mannir Yakubu, Speaker of Katsina State House of Assembly Honourable Tasi’u Maigari Zango, Secretary to the Government of the State Mustafa Muhammed Inuwa, Caretaker Committee Chairmen of the local government areas prone to banditry, heads of security agencies, Emir of Katsina Alhaji AbdulMumin Kabir Usman and leaders and representatives of Fulani communities in the state were in attendance.
Governor Masari, who convened the meeting at the Katsina State Secretariat “to afford stakeholders the opportunity to give their contribution towards finding a lasting solution”, declared that the spate of wanton bloodshed was ENOUGH, and that the state of insecurity MUST be reversed in Katsina without further delay.
He said he was fully prepared and ready to personally go anywhere to meet with anybody to dialogue with them on how to stamp out bandit attacks in the state.
The Governor however, threatened to take whatever action is necessary to end banditry, kidnapping and cattle rusting, warning that henceforth government will not toletate the breach of peace in the state.
The State Governor attributed the acute insecurity in parts of the country to the systematic failure of leadership which has led to the near total collapse of almost all the sub sectors of the economy, notably education.
He also attributed the romance with criminal activities by most Fulani youths to illiteracy, as they lack both Islamic and Western forms of education, given that their parents prepare them only for animal herding at the expense of all other endeavors, including the pursuit of knowledge.
As leaders, parents and elders, we must take the blame for the criminal activities of the Fulani youths because we have not adequately provided them with proper environment to become reasonable members of the society, he lamented.
That not withstanding, he however, observed that “People need to realise that once there is wanton bloodshed, there won’t be peace in the society”.
“This meeting is to afford opportunity to all those invited to give their contribution on the way forward. This state of affairs is ENOUGH, a way must be found to end it for good
“It’s the duty of all of us to contribute to bring an end to this state of insecurity.
“Make no mistake about it, anybody who has a hand in the bloodbath must account for it sooner or later,
“Those who have information, but decide to keep quiet are themselves guilty of the same crime, Governor Masari added.
The Governor presented two Toyota Hilux pick up vans to the military to beef their operations in the State.
Signed,
Abdu Labaran Malumfashi,
DG Media.
