COVID-19 not an issue in Katsina, our major problem is banditry —Gov Masari

Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari has lamented the never ending atrocities of bandits in the state and said that banditry, and not COVID-19 is the major issue his people currently face.

The governor, who said the people of the state were now losing confidence in their leaders, regretted that no less than 50 persons had been murdered by bandits in the state in the last two weeks.

In a post on his official Twitter account, @GovernorMasari, which he posted after the Chief of Defence, Training and Operations, Maj-Gen Leo Irabor and other senior officers from the Defence Headquarters, Abuja visited him on Wednesday, he wrote:

“Received the Chief of Defence Training and Operations, Defence Headquarters, Abuja, Maj-Gen Leo Irabor and other senior officers from the @DefenceInfoNG. They were on a working visit to the state and were accompanied by the GOC 8 Division Brigadier-General Aminu Bande.

“I am using this opportunity to inform the defense Hqtrs that our people have started mooting the idea of taking up arms against the bandits no matter the consequences. We are doing our best to stop them and assure them that our security agencies are on top of the situation.

“May I, therefore, appeal to the defense hqtrs to take decisive and urgent steps that will prove to our people that all we have been telling them is real and will bring succour. Living in fear is more worrisome than fear itself.”

The governor was quoted to have also said, “We sincerely appreciate the efforts of the security agencies in the fight against banditry but we must also state that the situation has become so overwhelming. We are running out of words to convince our people that we are on top of the situation.

“They are, by the days, losing confidence in us as their leaders, saddled with the responsibility of securing their lives and properties.

“I am so saddened with the situation we are in now, because to most of our people in the troubled areas, COVID-19 is not even an issue. It may have taken over the world and the news about it but not here.

“Attacks by armed bandits have become a daily affair. In about two weeks, we have lost more than 50 people.

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“At our own end and within the resources available, we have provided support to the security agencies. We even brokered peace through an Amnesty and reconciliatory drive. Some of the bandits repented and joined us in the fight. They were, however, overpowered by the unrepentant ones who are more sophisticated.”

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