Katsina State Elders Forum (KATSEELFO) has called for intensified efforts towards addressing the insecurity challenges of the state and North-west at large.
Arewa Trust Weekly reports that Katsina has been under siege from activities of bandits especially in some front line local government areas of Jibia, Batsari, Danmusa, Safana, Faskari, Dandume, Sabuwa and some parts of Dutsinma and kurfi LGAs.
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The forum which draws its membership from a pool of concerned and experienced citizens of the state irrespective of religious or political afflictions, said while it acknowledges the federal government’s effort to end banditry, more efforts were needed to eradicate criminality and restore peace to the state.
The secretary of the forum, Aliyu Mohammed, while addressing newsmen in Katsina State, said this will help the common man to concentrate on his farming activities.
The forum also said it recently met to discuss issues of insecurity and the ongoing media war between the state government and one of its indigenes, Mahdi shehu, and called for restrain between the two parties.
“All efforts to reach Mahdi proved abortive, as such, a member was asked to invite Mahdi to Katsina to attend the meeting but Malam Mahdi turned down the invitation, asking members to see him in Kaduna. Members of the forum also met with the governor and he referred us to the appropriate authorities handling the investigation,” he said.
“The forum learnt that already, the EFCC, ICPC and the state assembly have received the petitions from Mahdi and have commenced investigations,” he added.