By FRANCIS SARDAUNA

The Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, on Thursday, expressed worries over the prevailing security challenges bedevilling the state, noting that 10 out of 34 local government areas of the state are under persistent attacks by bandits and kidnappers.

He affirmed that the deteriorating spate of banditry, kidnapping, rape and armed robbery were clog in his government’s effort at restoring peace and normalcy in the state.

Masari, who spoke when he received the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya, at the Government House, Katsina, said residents and security agencies must work together by upping the ante in the war against bandits, kidnappers and other criminals in the state.

He said the military and other security agencies need logistics support and manpower to tackle banditry and other insecurity challenges confronting the nation, adding that the world has gone into the era of technology, as “with technology you can fight your war with minimum number of personnel”.

He said: “We here in Katsina, if we say we are very happy, we are not being honest. We are disturbed with this issue of banditry accompanied with kidnapping, raping of innocent women, armed robbery on our highways. I want technology to be properly deployed to bring this banditry activities under control.

“We are not deceiving ourselves that we will eliminate criminality; it has never been done before, it cannot be done today rather can it be done tomorrow but we can bring it under control in such a way that it does not disturb the way of life of people as we are seeing today.

“10 out of 34 local governments in Katsina State are under severe bandits attacks daily. So, with that in mind, there is no way we can sleep. Our phones are permanently on to hear what is happening in local governments. Before breakfast, I am briefed about what happened last night. So General we are not in a very comfortable situation but we thank God.”

To stem the tide, he said, the state government has amended the local government laws and created a three-tiers security structure in the state in order to restore the roles of traditional, religious, youths and women leaders in fighting insecurity across the state.

Earlier, the COAS Lieutenant Gen. Yahaya, told the governor that he was in Katsina State on operational visit to inspect military units and forms under 8 Division of the Nigerian Army, vowing to work with other sister security agencies to curb insecurity in the state. (THISDAY)

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