From Agaju Madugba, Katsina
A member of the House of Representatives (APC Musawa/Matazu) Federal Constituency of Katsina State, Hon. Abdullahi Aliyu Ahmed, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to add a matter of urgency order the deployment of more security personnel to Katsina, to check the seeming intractable state of insecurity in the area.
Reacting to a recent protest by members of his constituency over persistent killings and abduction of farmers, regretted that that the situation has become unbearable.
“Farmers in my constituency and indeed from other parts of Katsina State can no longer access their farmlands for fear of being abducted or killed by terrorists,” he said while urging the nation’s security chiefs to adopt more proactive measures to combat terrorism.
According to Ahmed, “there is no doubt that we do not have adequate number of security personnel in Katsina and in my constituency in particular to handle these bandits who have rendered the people homeless and economically worthless.
“I recently donated four-truck load of fertilisers to farmers in my area but they hardly have access their farmlands because of insecurity.”
“I condemn the resurgence of killings and destruction of property in Katsina State.
“The people of the state, especially my constituents from villages in Musawa and Matazu Local Governments Areas can no longer carry out their lawful businesses because of persistent bandits’ attacks.
“I therefore, call on our amiable President, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to, as a matter of urgency, deploy massive security personnel to Katsina in order to end the wanton destruction of lives and property in the state.”
The President should consider long-term solutions to the security challenges and transform the Nigerian security sector from its current largely predatory nature to one that is civilian-friendly with focus on building trust relationships with the civil population.
“The President should also consider long-term solutions to the security predicament and devote equal attention to socio-economic issues that provide fertile ground for recruitment of the youth into violent extremism by criminal gangs.”
He said that he was collaborating with the Senator representing the Funtua zone, Hon. Muntari Dandutse, and the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Olukayode Egbetokun, on the possibility of deploying additional 600 mobile police officers to the zone.
As part of his contribution towards alleviating the hardship, the lawmaker noted that he had since donated dine relief materials including rice, maize and mattresses through the State Emergency Management Agency.
Musawa and Matazu Local Government Areas are among the 18 locations of the 34 Local Government Areas officially designated as “frontline” that suffer severe banditry attacks.
As part of measures to check the development, the state government on Thursday mobilized some 150 religious leaders from across the state who gathered in Katsina to pray for return of peace.
Governor Dikko Umar Radda has since ruled out the possibility of any negotiations with the marauding terrorist
