Reps search finish to banditry in Katsina

The House of Representatives on Wednesday urged President Bola Tinubu to be ruthless against criminal elements terrorising innocent Nigerians in Katsina State.

This is coming against the backdrop of the frequent attacks by gunmen in parts of the state.

The resolution by the lawmakers followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved on the floor of the House during plenary by the member representing Jibia/Kaita Federal Constituency, Katsina State, Mr. Sada Soli.

Addressing his colleagues while moving the motion, the lawmaker expressed concerns over the continuous destruction of lives and property in the North Western state and called for urgent action to stem the tide.

This is just as he lamented what he called the failure of security agencies to rise to the occasion and rid the state of criminals.

“The House calls on Mr. President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to direct the security agencies to sustain their pressure on criminals perpetrating violence and criminal activities in Katsina State and the country in general.

“The House urges the National Emergency Management Agency and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to urgently provide humanitarian assistance to the affected communities and support the displaced persons across the state,”  Soli said.

Leading the debate earlier, the lawmaker accused security agencies of failing to take immediate and decisive action to address the security challenges in the state, adding that the development necessitated the deployment of additional security personnel to the affected communities to combat banditry and restore peace and order.

He stated that a gang of armed bandits from neighbouring Kaduna and Zamfara states were making all efforts to gain control over some communities in Katsina State, noting that as a result, the state is almost on the verge of being “overrun by these criminal elements if no urgent and decisive action is taken to curb the activities of these bandits and restore peace to about 18 Local Governments Areas of the State.”

While commending the security agencies for their successful operation on March 4, 2024, which led to the killing of two notorious bandits, Soli called for sustained pressure on the criminals “so that our people can sleep with their two eyes closed.”

Troops of the Nigerian Army killed a notorious terrorist leader, Maikusa, who is reported to be the second-in-command in the hierarchy of terrorists in Katsina State, under the leadership of another terrorist known as Modi Modi.

On March 6, the Katsina State Government released over N10 billion from May 2023 to date for various developmental projects and to tackle insecurity in the 34 Local Government Areas of the state.

The According exclusively learnt that this expenditure is to ensure development at the various council levels and to encourage residents to live and migrate to the rural areas.