Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina state says despite escalating killings by bandits, only 30 policemen provide security in 100 villages in the state.
The governor has however stated that his state would amend its extant laws to give power to village heads and local authorities in the battle against the bandits.
Masari, at a luncheon by Nigerian Air Force to celebrate the Eid-El-Kabir with frontline troops in Katsina, lamented that 30 policemen were “grossly inadequate” especially now that the bandits had become emboldened.
“This would complement ongoing efforts to emplace a robust community policing structure, whilst addressing the gross deficit in the number of police personnel available at local levels, which is in the range of an average of about 30 policemen to about 100 villages.”
He reckoned that a parmanent solution was needed to end insecurity in the state. “Even if the bandits were wiped out by the military, another generation of criminal elements would quickly take their place in the absence of governance and adequate policing.”
“The bandits are intertwined within the communities so sometimes it may be difficult for the NAF or the Army to distinguish them from the locals in order to conduct offensive operations devoid of collateral damage. The locals must stop giving support, information or safe havens to these criminals,” the governor said.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, said arrangements had been concluded to deploy Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in Katsina and Gusau in the Zamfara states as part of measures to bring a quick end to the attacks in the Northwest and Northeast.
He thanked the President for the acquisition of unmanned aerial combat vehicle that will be deployed not only in the Northwest Zone but also in Northeast.
Emir of Katsina Abdulmumin Usman in his speech advised Governor Masari to consider sending a high-powered delegation of Katsina indigenes to President Muhammadu Buhari on the insecurity in the state.
“Lack of regular interaction and communication have remained the bane in our quest for development as a state.
“Our governor needs to rally Katsina citizens and seek suggestions from them in order to proffer solutions to the myriads of challenges facing the state.’’
The Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) has called on the Federal Government to end the killings in southern Kaduna, Plateau, Benue, Taraba and Adamawa states.
