Masari seeks security agencies’ support for vigilantes in Katsina

Katsina Governor Aminu Bello Masari has decried the lack of support for vigilante groups and hunters by security agencies in the State.

He lamented the Army and Police were not supportive enough of the recruitment and deployment of vigilantes and hunters by the State Government to combat banditry in forests and the rural communities.

Masari spoke at a mini town hall meeting involving heads of security agencies, first class traditional rulers, district heads, as well as members of the State Executive Council at the Government House Katsina for visiting Minister of information and Culture, Lai Mohammed,

He also condemned the attitude of some transport unions, including National Union of Road Transport workers (NARTO) and some district heads for undermining the implementation of the containment order banning junction parks and the supply of logistics to bandits in the forests.

He said: ’The attitude of the Military and the Police towards the recruitment, training and deployment of the vigilantes particularly in the rural communities, is undermining the fight against banditry in the State.

‘’The uncooperative and non- support of these agencies to the vigilantes is disturbing. if they don’t have a conducive atmosphere to operate side by side, how can they be effective?’’

‘’The low population of the security agencies deployed into the rural communities are supposed to be complimented by the vigilantes and hunters, who were expected to take over the security situation of the rural communities and villages at the end of every military operation.”

Masari further reported that bandits being chased out of their forest hideouts by the recent onslaughts and bombardments were relocating to the communities in search of food.

He expressed concerns that the retreating bandits are trooping into the villagers to steal harvests and other farm products as the harvest season is fast approaching.

The Minister of Information and Culture Minister told the Governor that he came to the State accompanied by 22 media houses to hear first-hand, ’’noble and bold measures’’ he had taken to tackle banditry and other forms of criminality in the State.