The District Head of Batsari in Katsina State, Tukur Mu’azu, has raised the alarm that fleeing bandits from the neighbouring Zamfara State are making tents and taking over farming communities and villages within the Batsari Local Government Area of the state.
Muazu who was speaking to reporters in his palace explained that the movement was a result of the ongoing onslaught against the bandits in the forest areas of Zamfara and Katsina States.
He, therefore, called on the security agencies to deploy more personnel to the affected areas, to enable farmers to harvest their crops.
Batsari Local Government Area is one of the frontline areas worst hit by the activities of bandits, due to its proximity to Zamfara State and the dreaded Rugu Forest.
The residents of the area are predominantly farmers, who cultivate largely sesame, millets, maize, guinea corn, sweet potatoes, sugarcane, among other crops.
Speaking on the current security situation in the area, the District Head of Batsari said appreciable successes are being recorded as the attacks are not as they used to be.
He attributed the success largely to the ongoing onslaught against the bandits in the forest, as well as the Security Challenges Containment Order signed and is being enforced by the state government.
Mu’azu also used the medium to alert the security agencies of the migration of bandits fleeing the onslaughts in the Zamfara forest settling on the fringes of some communities in the area due to hunger and starvation.
He gave the names of the communities where the bandits are now hiding to include Yasore, Duba, Sabon-Garin Dunburawa, Bakin-ragi, and Labo.
The District Head explained that these communities are facing similar security challenges, as according to him, the residents are finding it difficult to harvest their crops.
As part of the 13 local government areas affected by the Security Challenges Containment Order, shutting down telecommunication services, Mu’azu said the move has helped to cut off communication between the bandits and their informants.
He, therefore, urged his subjects to exercise patience, even as they are facing hardship in their businesses, saying with the successes being recorded, all the measures will soon be lifted and they will return to their normal way of life soon.
