The group warned that if the Federal Government fails to address the killings, it would further worsen the intractable challenges in the country occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The indigenous people of Katsina, who are based in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja have called on the Federal Government to urgently declare a state of emergency following a high level of insecurity in Katsina State.
In a statement made available to Vanguard Monday in Abuja, the group under the aegis of Concerned Katsina Youth, noted that recent developments leading to wanton killings of innocent people in the state were a testament to the fact that the state government could not guarantee the safety of lives and property of citizens of the state.
They blamed the state government for the spate of insecurity in the state, noting that the peace deal reached with the bandits has not yielded any result.
Deputy Spokesman for the group, Shamsudeen Danasibi Faskari, who signed the statement, said residents of the state now live in palpable fear, as security agencies in the state appear helpless.
Faskari stressed that the situation had reached an unimaginable level.
Faskari said that his local government, Dutsinma, was the epicentre of senseless killings since December 2019.
The group warned that if the Federal Government fails to address the killings, it would further worsen the intractable challenges in the country occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The statement partly read, “Precisely December 2019, we spoke eloquently through the press on the state of attacks, kidnapping and cattle rustling in Dustin-Ma Local Government Area of Katsina State. On that very occasion, we came up with a catalogue of 29 different cases of bandit attacks all in December 2019. [story_link align="left"]81926[/story_link]
“However, we observed that after our landmark press conference held last December, normalcy was restored to the area. Regrettably, that relative peace was cut short as bandit attacks resumed in full swing in March 2020, extending their operations to other parts of the state.
“We have watched with a heavy heart how our people are being slaughtered like sheep and goats. We have also watched helplessly how communities are being invaded and how families and kindred are being wiped out by bandits, while security agencies appear helpless.
“Therefore, we are calling on the Federal Government, as a matter of urgency, to impose a state of emergency on the state. The federal government should take over the security apparatus of the state until the lives and property of citizens are guaranteed. The lives of our people are far more precious than any office.
“In case the government fails to take immediate action towards the restoration of peace in the state, then we would have no option than to resort to self-defence which might lead to a threat to national peace and security. We do not pray that Nigeria gets to that level of lawlessness because we have too many battles in our hands as a nation.”[story_link align="left"]81871[/story_link]