Governor Aminu Masari’s government says Katsina has been peaceful in recent months, claiming the crime rate has reduced by 50 per cent.

The governor’s special adviser on security, Ahmad Katsina, admitted that bandits were still unleashing violent attacks on some communities.

“Residents of Katsina State know that the state has been enjoying relative peace in recent times. However, there is still some pockets of community banditry experienced in the state,” said the governor’s aide. “From statistics available to us and the feedback we get daily, the crime rate in the state generally has gone down by fifty per cent.”

Mr Katsina stated this at the inauguration of a 25-man technical committee on the UN Security Resolution Committee (UNSRC1325) on State Action Plan (SAP).

He explained that the state government involved more women in security management and realised that criminals listened more to women when persuaded to quit crimes.

“If you attend any gathering in the state now, be it social or political, you will hardly notice the presence of thugs. It is a result of the effectiveness of the recently-promulgated law banning political thuggery,” said Mr Katsina. “Law enforcement agents have been mandated to deal ruthlessly with any political thug disturbing the state’s peace.”

He added, “I can assure you that there will be no political thug in the forthcoming April 11 council elections and the upcoming 2023 general elections.”

(NAN)