Banditry: Relocate to Katsina, APC chieftain begs Buratai

A chieftain of the All Progressive Party (APC) in Katsina, Maiwada Danmalan, has appealed to the Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, to relocate to Katsina and address the lingering security challenge bedevilling the State.

Danmalam, in a statement, said People are being killed senselessly daily and a large part of the state is now “some sort of a human abattoir”.

“People are dying without knowing why and it’s obvious the government has overstretched its limits and citizens are more or less left to their devices; left with no option but to be sitting ducks for bandits to kill at will,” he said.

The State Government, out of desperation and limited options, had experimented with the short term option of reconciliation and peace overtures, which has failed to provide succor and relief for these communities.

“It could even be said the experiment only emboldened these criminals believing state government was forced into that position by their superior fire power.

“In any case, the option is unsustainable as Government lack the resources to always appease lawless bandits even if one decide to discount the wrong signal negotiating peace with bandits would be sending to the public.

“This is a plea to you sir, please save Katsina State.

“I have no doubt in your capacity to restore Katsina State to normalcy.

“I have no doubt you are compassionate and professionally competent to end this pogrom.

“You’ve done it before and you can do it again. Please deploy everything at your disposal to stop the bloodshed in Katsina,” he added.

While noting that Buratai’s relocation to the Northeast had helped to subdue the Boko Haram terrorists, he expressed optimism that same move will produce the desired result in Katsina as well.

Multiple attacks by bandits on Wednesday in Faskari and Sabuwa local government areas of Katsina State led to the death of 5 people.

Also, the Divisional Police Officer, ACP Aminu Abdulkarim, was shot while the Head of administration of Danmusa local government, Yahaya Musa Sabuwa, was kidnapped.

And the state governor, Aminu Masari, has no idea on how to confront the criminals.

While speaking on Wednesday, he said; “the state is daily recording attacks from operations of unrepentant bandits.

“It is a very terrible situation about our people, some of them is not about coronavirus, it is about bandits virus.”

Masari disclosed that 50 people were killed two weeks ago, adding that: “It is a daily occurrence. My reporting officer, every morning when he sees my face, doesn’t want to tell me what had happened not knowing I have heard it earlier.”