Agaju Madugba, Katsina
Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, has faulted the Federal Government’s 1976 Local Government Reforms, describing them as counterproductive.
Masari, who spoke on Monday at Faskari, Faskari Local Government Area, said the reforms weakened the traditional institution and rendered it ineffective in checking crime, especially at the community level.
The governor addressed a press conference after inspecting facilities at the Nigerian Army Super Camp 4, Faskari, headquarters of the “Exercise Sahel Sanity,” comprising special forces established to combat activities of bandits operating in parts of the North West zone of the country.
He said the state government would embark on fresh reforms to enable local authorities manage security matters.
“We have established a committee with a view to recreating the village security council across the 361 wards of the 34 local government areas of the state.
“The village security council is aimed at sustaining the ongoing operations of the military and cascade down to remote and smaller areas to detect those to be held responsible for any wrongdoing,” Masari said.
Masari said the “Exercise Sahel Sanity” had recorded what he described as considerable progress in the fight against banditry since its launch on June 6 saying, “it’s not about addressing the problem in Katsina alone.
“If you address the problem of Katsina without addressing that of Zamfara, Sokoto and Kaduna, including the neighbouring Niger State, you have not done anything.
“This Sahel Operation has to be complete in order for it to be durable and sustainable.
“That is why we have come in to make sure we support sustainability and peace by putting measures on the ground that will check the spread of banditry.
“If you could remember in 2015, we were talking about cattle rustling somewhere along the line, it was kidnapping then came banditry followed by rape. “