From Agaju Madugba, Katsina
Conveyed at the instance of the Governor of Maradi Region of the neighbouring Niger Republic, Chiabou Aboubacar, governors of banditry-ravaged states of Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara and Kebbi met yesterday at the Katsina State Government House over activities of terrorists in the two countries and border security.
Governors of Katsina, Aminu Bello Masari, Sokoto, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Kebbi State Deputy Governor, Samaila Yaubai, and Deputy Governor of Zamfara State, Hassan Mohammed Nasiha, were present at the event.
Apparently reliving similar experiences of citizens in parts of Nigeria, the Maradi Region governor said: “We are in trouble because terrorists have denied us sleeping with our two eyes closed.
“Participants at this meeting are one family, hence, we deem it necessary to sort ourselves out at mitigating the menace.”
Also decrying activities of bandits and general insecurity in his state, Masari said that the government had taken a number of initiatives to tackle the problem.
He said his administration had, among other measures, built the capacity of traditional rulers and local government administrators, to deal with emerging real and potential threats in their areas of administration, through local content initiative.
“We also promote the concept of Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanism, as provided by the State Multi-Door court process, enhancing and promoting inter-security agencies liaison through the establishment of joint operations and information-sharing platform,” Masari said.
A communique was still being awaited from the meeting at the time