The Katsina State Government on Wednesday lamented that the state was under siege by bandits, armed robbers and kidnappers.

Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina State said this during the opening ceremony of an extra-ordinary security meeting in katsina.

“The citizens are on daily basis being harassed by bandits and kidnappers that are on rampage in the state.

“The Katsina Government organised
this one-day joint security and stakeholders meeting to proffer
solutions to the state’s current insecurity challenge.

“Our state is currently under serious
siege by armed robbers, kidnappers and armed bandits who arrest rural
people at the grassroots at will and demand ransom, which if not paid,
they kill their victims.

“The people of Katsina in the 34 local governments now sleep with one eye closed and the other opened.

“Our state is in a dangerous situation.
Travelers are afraid of being stopped on the highway and arrested by
kidnappers who demand ransom,” Masari said.

Masari said the situation was so bad that some
thieves stole some electrical equipment near the Government House at
the Government Reserved Area (GRA) in Katsina.

“I am calling on all stakeholders to come out with solutions that will assist the security agencies to discharge their duties,” he said

The governor urged the stakeholders not hide any criminal, and reveal vital information about criminals during the meeting.

“This time around, we should be able to
make sacrifices that will make our state safe and will allow people to
go about their lawful business without fear of being arrested by armed
bandits and kidnappers.”

NAN reports that soldiers, the Police,
Department of Security Service (DSS) and other security outfits and
traditional rulers attended the meeting.