Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari, said “COVID-19 is not an issue” for the people of the state, as armed bandits continue to terrorise them, unabated.

He said over fifty (50) persons have lost their lives in the hands of gunmen within the last two weeks.

The governor said this on Wednesday, May 6th, 2020, via his official Twitter handle, after receiving the Chief of Defence, Training and Operations, Maj-Gen. Leo Irabor and other senior officers from the Defence Headquarters, Abuja.

Masari said,

We sincerely appreciate the efforts of the security agencies in the fight against banditry but we must also state that the situation has become so overwhelming. We are running out of words to convince our people that we are on top of the situation.

They are, by the days, losing confidence in us as their leaders, saddled with the responsibility of securing their lives and properties.

I am so saddened with the situation we are in now, because to most of our people in the troubled areas, COVID-19 is not even an issue. It may have taken over the world and the news about it but not here.

Attacks by armed bandits have become a daily affair. In about two weeks, we have lost more than 50 people.

At our own end and within the resources available, we have provided support to the security agencies. We even brokered peace through an Amnesty and reconciliatory drive. Some of the bandits repented and joined us in the fight. They were, however, overpowered by the unrepentant ones who are more sophisticated.

The governor appealed to the leadership of security agencies in Nigeria to work harder in combating the activities of bandits in the state.

According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), as of Wednesday, May 6th, Katsina State has recorded ninety five (95) confirmed cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), with eight recoveries and eight fatalities.

Justin Nwosu

Justin Nwosu is the founder and publisher of Flavision. His core interest is in writing unbiased news about Nigeria in particular and Africa in general. He’s a strong adherent of investigative journalism, with a bent on exposing corruption, abuse of power and societal ills.