Katsina State Government says the Security Challenges Containment Order that was adopted two months ago has led to significant reduction in the spate of armed banditry attacks in the 14 frontline local government areas of the state.
The measures that were adopted in the Order include the shutdown of telecom services, closure of livestock markets, ban on sale of petrol in Jerrycans, restriction on the numbef of fuelling stations that dispense fuel in the frontline LGAs and the restriction of movement of commercial motorcycles and tricycles.
At a joint press briefing by the Secretary to the State, Government, Alhaji Mustafa Inuwa, the Commissioner of Police Sanusi Buba and the Special Adviser on Security to Governor Aminu Bello Masari, Ibrahim Ahmed at the Government House in Katsina, gave a breakdown of the total number of armed banditry attacks, arrests and prosecutions recorded in the last four months.
The SSG, Alhaji Mustafa Inuwa, pointed out that a total of 475 persons were abducted between July and August while only 201 were abducted between September and October.
“Similarly, between July and August 97 armed banditry attacks were staged resulting in 130 deaths while only 56 incidents were recorded between September and October with 83 deaths.
“Incidents of cattle rustling also dropped significantly during the period as 1,347 cows, 345 sheep and 119 goats were stolen between July and August while 676 cows, 109 sheep and 160 goats were rustled between September and October”, Inuwa explained.
He noted that 480 suspected criminals were arrested between March and September, 2021, as 216 suspects were under prosecution and 42 were under investigation while from September to date 244 suspects were arrested with 80 under prosecution and 33 under investigation.
The SSG urged people of the state to give maximum support to the Security Challenges Containment Order by reporting informants and people with suspicious character to security agencies.
Alhaji Mustafa Inuwa noted that the order was a necessity adopted collectively by the states of the North-west zone that faced the menace of armed banditry after series of security operations had failed to produce the desired result.
Isma’il Adamu