The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), have warned that the spate of banditry and other security challenges bedeviling some communities in Katsina State may trigger a looming food crisis in the state, if urgent and drastic measures were not taken by government and security agencies.

The CSOs added that the impending food crisis looming in the state as a result of lull in farming activities caused by the heinous activities of bandits and other criminals terrorising the state, should be adequately addressed by the state government.

Speaking yesterday at an event to mark this year’s national day of mourning at the Katsina NUJ Secretariat, the State Chairman of CSOs, Mr. Abdurrahman Abdullahi Dutsin-ma, said the state government had done well in curtailing insecurity but more needed to be done to enable farmers to commence farming activities.

He said:

As the rainy season is fast approaching, security measures need to be provided to enable our farmers harvest their farmlands because with the way things are going, farmers will find it difficult to cultivate their land which may cause a serious food security not the state alone but the nation at large.

He lauded the state government for its plan to assist victims of banditry, particularly orphans and widows, in terms of free education, healthcare services and supportive feeding

but more effort should be put in place to ensure sustainable peace in the state.

He, therefore, admonished civil society organisations in the state to beam their searchlights on the situation of children and women who lost their parents and husbands to banditry and urged residents to be security conscious and prayerful for God’s intervention.

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.