‘I’m a target of bandits’ — Radda summons emergency meeting over insecurity in Katsina

Dikko Radda, governor of Katsina, says he is one of the targets for attack by bandits terrorising the state.

Radda spoke on Friday at an emergency security council meeting held to find solutions to the economic hardship and insecurity in the state.

The meeting was attended by heads of security agencies, emirs of Katsina and Daura, relevant government officials, religious leaders, representatives of traders’ associations, and chairpersons of LGAs.

Radda said bandits are targeting to attack him because of the pressure being put on them by the government and security forces.

“Security report revealed that I’m now one of their targets in the state because of the measures we are taking to deal with the situation,” NAN quoted the governor as saying.

“We are calling on people to organise themselves in order to protect their communities from attacks by criminals.”

He added that the meeting was also called to take proactive measures to avert the protests that happened in other states over the rising economic hardship.

“It is unfortunate that prices of food items and other essential commodities have been increasing daily, hence the need for stakeholders to offer useful advises on the problem,” he said.

“I was told that foodstuffs are being transported from our markets to neighbouring countries like Niger, then to Mali and Burkina Faso, because our naira has been depreciating while their currencies are gaining value.

“Such people are taking that opportunity at the detriment of the poor. That is a great problem which we cannot fold our arms and allow it to continue.”