By Echeburu Oby

Nigeria has been faced with high rate of armed banditry cases, which has resulted in kidnapping and killing of its citizens. Many preys have been kidnapped and killed in most of the northern States of Nigeria and some recorded in the Southern part of the country.

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), of Nigeria’s northern state of Katsina, Mustapha Inuwa, has announced the “soft-landing measures for would-be repentant bandits”, stating that the state is willing to offer houses, market stalls and farmlands to bandits ready to surrender arms to security operatives of the state.  

In a news conference at the state’s Government House last Monday, Inuwa said the state having supported security agencies with an estimated N4.274.

The said N4.274b financial funding to security outlets according to Inuwa, was used for the delivery of infrastructures, logistics and payment of allowances of security personnel.

The state has planned establishing resettlement centres that will have schools, health care centres, markets and farmlands for cattle rearing, as well as farming in local areas like Rugu, Yantumaki, Maidabino and Sabwa/Faskari forests for expected repentant bandits.

Sada, who is one of the leaders of the bandits has surrendered three AK 47 rifles, one sub-machine gun and two magazines to troops at Forward Operation Base, Dansadau.

He further went ahead to say that “they have concluded plans for those who will accept to leave to(for) a permitted settlement near Rugu Forest, which is part of the design by government to clear-out the forests from being occupied by bandits.

The team is set to work on the desired structures any moment from now. Some of the desired settlement areas which are to be considered are: Yantumaki-Maidabino forest area and Sabwa/Faskari forests”.