From Agaju Madugba, Katsina
The Katsina State chapter of Coalition of Northern Groups has decried what it described as the deteriorating security situation in the area arguing that combined efforts by conventional and local security personnel have proved to be ineffective.
“The escalating violence and banditry in Katsina State and the northern region pose significant security threat, severely impacting all aspects of development,” the group’s Katsina State Coordinator, Habibu Ruma, said at a press conference on Sunday.
He listed some “comprehensive non-kinetic instruments” to tackle the menace of terrorism in the state to include, information management and community dialogue, socioeconomic and civil-military initiatives.
According to the group, “we must reduce ungoverned spaces, manage porous borders, eradicate corruption and promote unity in our diverse society.
“It is crucial that the community takes ownership of the situation.
“A robust literacy programme should be implemented in the state, particularly in rural areas, incorporating both religious and western education to instill moral values in society, given that the majority of individuals involved in banditry lack formal education.
“However, this must be coordinated across the region with the active participation of the Federal
Government to ensure that authorities don’t send conflicting signals to the bandits.
“We therefore call on the relevant authorities to consider using a non-kinetic approach with community dialogue as a key component to end the banditry menace in the state and the region in
general.”
Ruma cited some bloody terrorists’ campaigns in Katsina to include, “the recent attack on a military camp in Faskari Local Government Area on Sunday, May 12, 2024, which resulted in the death of five soldiers and injuries to several others, followed by
another assault less than 24 hours later, on Monday, May 13, 2024, an operation in Yar’malamai village, Faskari Local Government Area, which led to the abduction of more than 80 people, looting of shops and burning of houses in an incident that lasted over 10 hours.
“As at August 2023, Nigeria’s police strength was below 380,000 officers, which is insufficient, based on a ratio of one police officer to about 600 citizens.
“As at 2022, Nigeria, with an estimated population of about 220 million people, had a total military strength of about 223,000 personnel.
“This gives a ratio of military personnel to a population of approximately 11,000.
“This is lower than those of Nigeria’s neighbours, their armoury and welfare are in shamble while the bandits armouries increase by day with the latest drone-testing by the terrorists and equally recruiting different segments of people either as informants or field actors.”