The Chief Whip of the Katsina State House of Assembly, Ibrahim Umar Dikko, broke down in tears during plenary over the worsening security situation in Matazu Local Government Area of the state.
Dikko, who represents Matazu constituency, lamented that bandits have virtually taken control of most parts of the area, leaving residents helpless and farmers unable to access their farmlands.
“Out of the 10 wards, eight are under siege. Farmers cannot go to farms. Just yesterday, by the entrance of the town near the secondary school, they killed a young man and rustled four oxen used for ploughing,” he said amid tears.
The lawmaker disclosed that within just two days, 12 farmers were killed by the marauding gunmen.
“Yesterday, they killed five farmers on their farm. A day before that, they killed seven farmers on their farms. Wallahi, the farms are inaccessible anymore,” he cried.
His emotional outburst highlights the deteriorating security situation in Katsina, one of the states worst hit by banditry in the North-West.
Armed gangs have continued to unleash terror, killing, kidnapping, and raping residents at will. Despite ongoing military operations and security reinforcements, the attacks persist, with the criminals using forests as operational bases to launch fresh assaults.
Both the state and federal governments have attempted to restore peace by deploying more security personnel, supporting vigilante groups, and assisting displaced persons. However, the attacks continue almost daily, underscoring the scale of the challenge.
