No fewer than 150 Ulama (Muslim clerics and preachers) were mobilized by the Katsina State government, from across the 34 local government areas for special prayers for peace to reign in the banditry-ravaged state.
Governor Dikko Radda was also among participants, along with other Muslim leaders and citizens who thronged the People’s Square, venue of the programme.
The event also featured recitation of portions of the Qu’ran, the Muslim Holy Book.
The governor explained that the prayer session was part of efforts of his administration to tackle the lingering issue of insecurity due to activities of terrorists operating in parts of the state.
“Insecurity is not the sole responsibility of government alone but everybody, hence the involvement of religion leaders,” Radda said, adding that, “l will deploy all available resources to end banditry and criminality across the state.”
According to him, the insecurity issues will be paramount for this administration.
“To the bandits, I say abandon your guns and reintegrate into the society or face the full wrath of the law. We will not negotiate with terrorists but if any want to reintegrate to the society, government is willing to accept them.
“The driving force of our administration will be service to the people, equity, justice for all. We will run a people-oriented government and resist anything compromising our ability to put our people first,” the he said.
Katsina has had its fair share of general insecurity affecting a number of states in the Northwest geo-political zone.
For Katsina, residents in about 18b out of the 34 local government areas live in perpetual fear of murderous attacks from terrorist-bandits who invade the communities regularly and leaving a trail of blood behind.
Immediate past administration of governor, Aminu Bello Masari, took a number of measures to check the menace including botched negotiation efforts with the criminals.
