At a reception for Chief of Army Staff, Gen Fauk Yahaya during a recent courtesy visit to governor while on visit to army formations there, Masari appealed to the military to continue their war against insurgency and called on the citizenry of the state to arm themselves as well. His call to arms drew a lot of public condemnation but the governor refused to bulge.
Katsina headlined ravaging banditry like other North-west states of Zamfara, Kaduna, Sokoto and Kebbi , when over 200 students of Kankara School were kidnapped at the close of last year just as many of the people from the state have relocated to neighbouring villages in Niger Republic, where they acquired land and built houses as a result of unceasing kidnapping and killing of thousands of people, according to the governor.
Speaking during a press conference with journalists at the Muhammadu Buhari House in Katsina on Wednesday, Mr Masari said the people need to buy arms as the number of security personnel is not enough to solve the insecurity in the state.
Justifying his call, Masari said even the Islamic religion was in support of defense against attack.
He said; “It’s Islamically allowed for one to defend himself against attack. One must rise to defend himself, his family and assets. If you die while trying to defend yourself, you’ll be considered a martyr. It’s surprising how a bandit would own a gun while a good man trying to defend himself and his family doesn’t have one,” the governor said.
The governor assured the people that the state government would help those who plan to own arms with for the purpose of ending banditry.
“We’ll support those who come with the initiative to procure arms because residents need to also complement the efforts of security agencies. The security agents don’t have the number to protect the people. Even President Buhari is helpless, he even tried by increasing the number of our security agents but it’s inadequate. Count it yourself, how many policemen do we have in this country? How many soldiers do we have?
“Even if we say every policeman should go back to his home state, it’ll still not be enough. So, if we fold arms and decide to do nothing, we’ll be the ones to suffer most,” he lamented.
Mr Masari said the police would register all guns bought by the residents to ensure they are put to the right use.
“I still believe that, from my personal opinion as Aminu Bello Masari, until such a time when we have stable polity, I think rotation or shifting power from time to time will help consolidate our confederation. I support that and I still maintain my stand and I have the constitutional right to make such comment,” he said.
