After the killing of a suspected armed robber on Tuesday night, Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State yesterday reiterated the determination of the state government to put an end to bandits.
The governor urged security agencies to “deal ruthlessly with bandits” terrorizing the state as well as neighbouring Kaduna and Zamfara states.
Masari made the declaration when heads of security agencies in Katsina brought two repentant bandit commanders from Illela village in Safana Local Government Area.
The two bandit commanders, Sale Turwa and Muhammed Sani Maidaji were presented before the Governor by the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Sanusi Buba, and his colleagues from the 17 Brigade, Katsina, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The bandit leaders had returned eight AK-47 and two AK-47 rifles respectively.
The Commissioner of Police informed the governor that in view and consensus of all the security chiefs in the state, he is requested to accept the repentant bandits and forgive them in order to encourage others to follow suit.
Masari however compliment the effort of the security operatives and urged them to double their effort in the fight against crime.
He declared, “I’ve instructed the security operatives to deal ruthlessly with the bandits until they are rendered permanently ineffective.
“We are no more going to negotiate with them, but if on their volition they decide to renounce their violent criminal ways and embrace peace, we are ready to listen to them.
“Even then, they must surrender all the arms and ammunition in their possession, otherwise they remain enemies to be dealt with accordingly, as far as we are concerned.
“Government is always ready to receive, forgive and rehabilitate repentant bandits, as long as they surrender all the arms and ammunition in their possession, but it is not up to us to romance them.”
