By Shannon Gwamna
The Governor of Kastina state, Aminu Masari said the kinetic and non kinetic techniques employed by the government against bandits is yielding results.
Masari, made the disclosure yesterday at an interactive media session on security matter in Katsina.
The governor said the shutdown of the telecommunication services in the state had crippled various activities of informants of the bandits in state.
“This has made it difficult for kidnappers to demand ransom from the families of kidnapped victims.”
He explained some of the drastic measures taken by his administration to cutdown the activities of bandits which included; the ban of selling bread by bakers at night, petrol in jerrycans along border communities, closure of animal markets, ban on the sale of fairly used motorcycles and closure of Junction Motor Parks.
“Banditry attack had lead to killings of the hundreds of people. We have over 150 different bandits camps each operating individually.
“They are not fighting for anything; they are simply criminals”.
He said the frontline states in the North-West have also agreed to employ 3,000 vigilantes, who will be trained by the police to complement the security agencies in the communities.
He urged security agencies to support the vigilantes.
On his part, Minister of Information, Lai Mohammad, said “we have heard of the measure you took to combat the menace of banditry and terrorism in your state.
“There is no doubt that the table is turning against the bandits, since Katsina and other affected states came up with a number of novel measures that got the bandits boxed in, and the military stepped up its kinetic approach”.
He said with no doubt some of the measures the governor has taken is yielding fruits.
“This efforts deserved to be triumph out for people to know. This will encourage the other state governors, stakeholders and security personnel that make daily sacrifice in ensuring that there is peace and harmony in the state“.
Lai said banditry did not start during President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, “it has been existing for a long time from history. We cannot negotiates with people whom we don’t share same value with.
“This banditry activities has forced Zamfara, Kano, Kastina, Niger among others to suspend development project“.
He assured that the federal government is concerned about banditry and is working assiduously with security agencies to address it.
The minister said he was impressed with the leadership of the state, traditional rulers and other stakeholders in addressing insecurity.
He explained the need for the media to provide positive coverage of the successes resulting from the novel measures in order to encourage the frontline states in the North-West, security agencies and the Federal Government to continue with the current efforts to stamp out banditry and other crimes in the area.
He also laud the support of the NAF and the entire military in the fight against banditry.
Earlier, the Emir of Katsina, Kabir Usman, said without proper dissemination of information, the society will be in vacuum.
“Information is the backbone and most veritable tools to end security challenges.