Banditry: Govt efforts paying off – Gov. Masari

Katsina state governor, Aminu Masari has revealed that the amnesty programme put in place for repentant bandits and other strategies have begun to yield positive results.

He said the amnesty programme has lead to a reduction in the spate of attacks by bandits in the state.

Governor Masari added that the state government, with the assistance of security agencies, had been able to dismantle the activities of the hoodlums through the establishment of its dialogue/amnesty programme in the state.

The governor made the revelation in a speech when President Muhammadu Buhari met some of the internally displaced persons at Batsari LG on Wednesday.

He added that the eight front line local government areas bordering the Rugu forest still experienced occasional bandits attacks despite efforts to stem the tide.

The emir of Katsina, Dr. Abdulmumini Usman in his speech at the occasion, called on the people of the affected communities to shun reprisal attacks and report suspicious movements or persons to security agencies for prompt intervention.

He implored Nigerians to avoid inflammatory statements against political and traditional leaders, declaring that the only remedy for the current security challenges facing the country were unflinching prayers.