Only 30 Policemen Providing Security For 100 Villages In Katsina - Gov. Masari

It has emerged that only 30 police operatives are providing security for 100 villages in President Muhammadu Buhari’s home state of Katsina which has been ravaged by the activities of bandits.

Governor Bello Masari made this disclosure in Katsina at this year’s Chief of Air Staff Eid-el-Kabir luncheon with troops of Operation Hadarin Daji and that of 213 Forward Operating Base.

The Katsina Governor said the hoodlums have so blended in with the local communities that it is hard to differentiate them from the locals, and called for a quick end to banditry and other crimes in the Northwest zone, warning that any delay in doing so may re-enact in the zone what have become of North-East Nigeria.

He said the state was looking at the extant laws on community policing with a view to giving power to village heads and local authorities and supporting current police efforts to improve the security situation.

“This would complement ongoing efforts to emplace a robust community policing structure, whilst addressing the gross deficit in the number of police personnel available at local levels, which is in the range of an average of about 30 policemen to about 100 villages.

“Even if the bandits were wiped out by the military, another generation of criminal elements would quickly take their place in the absence of governance and adequate policing.

“The bandits are intertwined within the communities so sometimes it may be difficult for the NAF or the army to distinguish them from the locals in order to conduct offensive operations devoid of collateral damage.

“The locals must stop giving support, information or safe havens to these criminals,” said the former House of Representatives Speaker.

He said, “We have seen some traces that are alarming and frightening at the same time that we need to tackle before the North West become another theatre like North East”, warning that “without urgent efforts to quickly tackle the bandits, the task could be more difficult”.

He expressed his appreciation and that of Katsina people to the Nigerian Air force over the role being played to address security challenges in Katsina and other states in the North-West.

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadik Abubakar, in his address, told the troops “For the serving gallant personnel that you’re, we will continue to provide the necessary tools to enhance your precise and effective prosecution of operations.

“Recently, I also convened a committee to review improving the development and employment of the NAF Special Operations Force-panthers. All these are aimed at keeping you motive to be the excellent lethal force that NAF has become.”