Insecurity: Masari Contributions Towards Ending Insecurity in Katsina State
- Katsina City News
- 23 Aug, 2024
- 351
When Governor masari took over mantle of leadership as the governor of Katsina in 2015, little did many Katsina residents know that insecurity will escalate to it’s current level.
Many local farming communities especially in the front line local governments have been devastated,thousands of residents killed,hundreds of thousands displaced,millions of livestock rustled, unspecified number of people abducted for ransom over the last decade living many without any means of livelihood.
Though the Aminu Bello Masari’s administration came in with the zeal and ambition to tackle the menace of Banditry and other forms of insecurity it was confronted with a lot of challenges that cut short what it could have done to achieve the desired objectives.
The masari led Katşına state government which was so desirous with all honesty and commitment of purpose as well as the political will to at least reduce the frequency of insecurity to the bearest minimum consulted widely with security experts,farmers and headers groups and other stakeholders a move that significantly brought many elements terrorizing residents, distrupting the peace of many to abandon their mission and reintegrated into the society.
These wide consultations, negotiations and peace accord with some of the bandits who believed in the sencirity of the masari led administration helped significantly in reducing the frequency of attacks, killings, abductions and rustling of animals throughout the eight years tenure of the government.
In comparative analysis some experts are saying the lost of lives and destruction of property recorded in the last one year of the current Dikko Radda’s administration has doubled the ones recorded in the eight years of Aminu Bello Masari’s administration ,true or false , records are there to verify.
Similarly the strategies adopted by the masari administration in minimizing insecurity are also there for reference purposes.
Beyond that the masari administration in Katsina state proscribed the activities of Yansakai a volunteer groups specialized in extra judicial killings,armed robbery and culpable homicide especially amongst communities in the front line local governments of Katsina state a situation that led to the escalation of insecurity.
On noticing the negative tendencies of the groups masari swiftly proscribed their activities leading to partial restoration of peace in most areas of the state that were hithator devastated by Banditry a situation greeted by a lot of praises from people of Katsina state.
One could not easily forget the harmonious relationships that existed between governor masari and the leadership of the two main Fulani associations (Miyetti Allah Kautol Höre and the Miyetti Allah Cattle breeders Association of Nigeria MACBAN) both at the state and the national levels which helped greatly in fostering unity,peace and reconciliation in the state.
The two associations were always there for governor masari as his doors remained wide open for advises, contributions, suggestions and recommendations on how best to tackle insecurity and posterity has definitely judged and done justice to the former governor that he has significantly done his best and achieved alot in that regard.
The leadership of the Miyetti Allah Kautol Höre and the Miyetti Allah cattle breeders Association are hailing the former governor for the recognition.
Residents of the affected communities in Batsari, Jibia,Safana, Danmusa,kankara, 0 a certain level appreciated by all.
‘I think one of the things I always remember about the former governor Aminu Bello masari is his concern and commitment to rescueing victims of Banditry, concern about the plight of people in need,and his efforts in negotiating with the hoodlums that had reduced our difficulties’.
‘I could remember when Shimfida village of Jibia local government area was attacked during which many residents were killed, thousands displaced ,masari then as governor sent vehicles to convey people to Jibia ,provided shelter, food and security at the camp in Jibia town,this we’ll never forget.’
Security experts and public commentators unanimously believe that negotiations with the bandits has significantly yielded positive result in the past and this is one of the best strategies to adopt in ending the menace.
Yamadi was a two term chairman of Nigeria union of journalists Katsina state council.a staff of KTTV Katsina and a stringer with Daily trust television.