Repent or we’ll deal with you, Masari warns bandits

Aminu Masari, governor of Katsina, has warned criminal elements in the state to be prepared to face the wrath of the government if they do not repent.

Masari said this while speaking at a security meeting with traditional rulers, herdsmen leaders and security agencies in the state, on Thursday.

He said killings were unacceptable and called on parents and guardians to be watchful of the companies their children and wards keep so as to prevent them from joining bandits and other criminals.

“Herdsmen leadership at all levels should counsel their children to desist from joining criminal gangs killing people or destroying property,” he said.

“A situation where people are being killed on daily basis is unacceptable.

“Therefore, these criminals must repent or we as government will know how to deal with them.”

The governor lamented that the state is now being portrayed in a bad light as a result of recurring banditry.

He, however, assured citizens that the government would work with any group that is ready for peace, to make sure that sanity returns to rural communities of the state.

Speaking, Abdulmumini Kabir, emir of Katsina, called for an immediate halt to the shedding of blood.

He asked communities in his domain to continue to live in peace with one another, describing the present spate of killings in the state as counterproductive.

Katsina is among the states with a high rate of insecurity.

On Monday, gunmen reportedly abducted 38 persons in Wurma town, Kurfi local government area of the state.

A resident, who identified himself as Badamasi, told TheCable that two of his children were among those kidnapped by the suspected bandits. He said despite distress calls placed to security operatives, the gunmen operated for hours without being challenged.

In July, about 22 persons were reportedly killed while scores of women were abducted when bandits attacked Zangon-Kankara and Makera in Kankara local government area of the state in July.