Banditry: Buhari calls for calm in his home state of Katsina

President Muhammadu Buhari has called for calm in his home state of Katsina, assuring that security agencies were working to bring the current wave of banditry and killing to a halt.

The President also observed that violent reactions to the security by citizens could distract the plans already laid out by security agencies, assuring that security forces were capable of stemming both terrorism and banditry.

It would be recalled that youths in Katsina, last week, took to the streets in Katsina State, protesting escalating security situation..

However, in a statement issued Tuesday evening by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, the President appealed for more patience from the youths, saying the situation would soon be brought under control.

“The Presidency assures Nigerians, again, that the nation’s armed forces are fully capable of dealing with the challenges of banditry and terrorism, urging more patience as the military takes appropriate steps to block gaps being exploited to unleash mayhem on innocent citizens.

“President Muhammadu Buhari, who has approved a joint military and police operation specifically targeted at combing Niger, Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto States to rid the areas of bandits, assures that surveillance will be improved, with more night vision aircrafts already deployed under ‘Operation Accord’. The operation was launched three weeks ago”, the statement said.

Quoting the President directly, the statement said “Nigeria’s military has displayed its capabilities in the past and will show it again by dealing with the current challenges”.

“President Buhari appeals to the people of Katsina State to be patient and supportive of the ongoing military operations in the state, while sympathizing with those who are bereaved, injured and lost properties.

“President Buhari admonishes that taking to the streets for protest could distract the military operations, urging ‘Katsina indigenes not to give up on the military who over the years have a strong track record of quelling crises once given enough time.

“The major forests in North Western Nigeria have been identified as home to the bandits in the region. The operation will clear all these forests,’’ he further said.