…Victims lament hard conditions
From Muawuya Bala Idris, Katsina
Katsina State governor, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari has lamented that banditry activities in the state have destroyed economic and farming activities in 13 out of 34 local government areas in the state.
He said victims of the bandit attacks in the affected local government areas have lost all their belongings, including houses, cows and sheep.
Masari, who spoke while receiving APC presidential aspirant and Ekiti State governor, Dr. Kayode Fayomi, further said activities of bandits forced about 13,500 people of Shimfida village in Jibia to migrate to the Niger Republic. Our correspondent reports that Jibia, Danmusa, Safana, Batsari, Faskari, Dandume, Sabuwa, Kankara, Dutsinma, Kurfi, Funtua, Matazu and Musawa are local government areas hit by bandit attacks in the state.
The Triumph learnt that, as a result of banditry activities, thousands of people, including women and children, have abandoned their villages and relocated to the Katsina metropolitan areas.
It was gathered that the victims now besiege houses of wealthy individuals and markets, soliciting for alms and food.
Our reporter learnt that hundreds of children who were victims of the attack could not go to schools in view of the situation they find themselves in.
A victim of a bandit attack from Batsari Local Government Area, Malama Hussaina Rumah, said her husband was killed by bandits and she is now taking care of the six children.
Hussaina lamented that she is finding it difficult to survive, adding that she moves with her children from one place to another in search of food. Also, an orphan, Muhammadu Sani, who roamed the streets along Sabon Layi in Katsina, said he could not go to school because nobody would sponsor his education.
Sani, said he welcomed the move by the state government to provide free education to orphans who are victims of bandit attacks.
