Katsina State government says the security challenges containment order adopted 2 months ago has significantly reduced banditry in the 14 frontline local government areas of the state.
The measures adopted include: shutdown of telecom services, closure of livestock markets, ban on sale of petrol in Jerry-cans, restriction on the number of fueling stations at the frontline LGA’s and restriction of movement of commercial motorcycles and tricycles.
At a joint press briefing by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Commissioner of Police, and the Special Adviser on Security to Governor Aminu Bello Masari at the Government House in Katsina, state officials gave reports of the total number of bandit attacks, arrests, and prosecutions recorded during the last 4 months.
The SSG, Alhaji Mustafa Inuwa, disclosed that a total of 475 persons were abducted between July and August 2021, while only 201 were abducted between September and October, 2021.
Similarly, between July and August, 97 bandit 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,” Mr Inuwa said.
He told the assembled journalists 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, in addition to 33 others under investigation.
Reporting by Isma’il Adamu; editing by Muzha Kucha