TOYIN ADEBAYO, ABUJA
Indigenous people of Katsina state based in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have called on the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency impose a state of emergency on the state following high level of insecurity in Katsina State.
The group under the auspies of Concerned Katsina Youth Vanguard, expressed concerns over the recent developments leading to wanton killings of innocent people in the state was a stestament to the fact that the state government could not guaranty the safety of lives and property of citizens of the state.
Speaking to Journalists in Abuja, the Deputy spokesman of the group, Alh. Shamsudeen Danasibi Faskari, hinted that residents of the state are living in palpable fear, as security agencies in the state appears helpless, stressing that the situation has reached an unimaginable level.
Faskari, affirmed that his local government area was the epic centre of senseless killings since December 2019, observed that other parts of the state are currently under siege by bandits
The group, however, warned that if the Federal Government fails to takeover the state, the recent insecurity may pose a threat to national security, thus further worsening the intractable challenges in the country occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to him, “Precisely December 2019, we spoke eloquently through the press on the state of armed attack, kidnapping and cattle rustling in Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area of Katsina state. On that very occasion, we came up with a catalogue of 29 different cases of bandit attacks all in the month of December, 2019.
“However, we observed that after our landmark press conference held last December 2019, normalcy was restored to the area. Regrettably, that relative peace was cut short as bandit attacks resumed in full swing in March, 2020, extending their operations to other parts of the state.
“We have watched with a heavy heart how our people are being slaughtered like sheep and goats. We have also watched helplessly how communities are being invaded and how families and kindred are being wiped out by bandits, while security agencies appear helpless.
He continued; “We have crossed the Rubicon and there is no turning back. Therefore, we are calling on the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency imposed a state of emergency on the state. Federal Government should takeover the security apparatus of the state until lives and property of citizens are guaranteed. The lives of our people is far more precious than any office.
“In case, government fails to take immediate action towards restoration of peace in the state, then we have no option than to resort to self-defence which might lead to a threat to national peace and security. We did not pray that Nigeria gets to that level of lawlessness because we have too many battles in our hands as a nation,” Faskari stated.
The group used the occasion to blame the state government on the spate of insecurity in the state, noting that the cease-fire deal reached with the bandits has not yielded any result.
