Katsina state Governor, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari, has siad the state government is spending over N60 million monthly in assisting and supporting security agencies to maintain security in the state. Masari disclosed this while addressing the opening of the Federal and states security administrators’ meeting in Katsina yesterday.
He said, in view of the present financial position of the state, he solicited the assistance of the federal government to fund security agencies operating in the state. Alternatively, Masari said the federal government “may consider providing specific resources to enable the state government to accommodate security fi nancial commitment and attend to other societal development needs.”
The Governor recalled that at the inception of the present APC administration, armed banditry, cattle rustling and other related crimes were the major security challenges in state. The Governor said such heinous activities affected Jibiya, Batsari, Safana, Danmusa, Kankara, Faskari, Dandume and Sabuwa local governments, adding that the state witnessed “a particular despicable scenario during which over 100 people were massacred in one of such banditry attacks.”
He disclosed that the state government organised and funded various joint security operations which dislodged criminals from their hide-outs that led to recovery of thousands of rustled animals. Masari said a Committee later organised series of meetings, which led to acceptance of amnesty programme that brought relative peace in the state. The Governor expressed happiness that the amnesty initiative led to the surrender of 350 fi rearms by repentant cattle rustlers in Kankara on January 15, 2017.
