Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina voiced his exasperation on the failure of measures to curb insecurity in Katsina state as he has told President Muhammadu Buhari to reopen the closed Katsina border in the wake of bandits’ attacks.
Specifically, the Katsina governor called on the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to reopen the Jibia-Niger Republic border for legitimate commercial activities.
Mr Masari, during a customs-community consultative forum on Thursday, explained that smuggling, banditry, and other illegal activities persisted in Katsina despite the border closure.
Represented by the secretary to the state government, Mustapha Inuwa, the governor said, “Go to the border towns and see. People are coming in and going out with goods at will.”
Mr Masari added, “Therefore, the borders should be reopened, and measures should be taken to ensure that law and order in the borders are adhered to.”
He, however, noted that “with the efforts of the current area comptroller, things are gradually normalising.”
The comptroller of the NCS in the state, Wada Chedi, said smugglers were aiding bandits and sabotaging the fight against insecurity.
“Some desperate smugglers in the state go to the extent of collaborating with bandits to launch attacks on our officers,” he said, accusing some residents of spreading rumours to discredit NCS’ activities.
Mr Wada-Chedi called on community leaders to caution residents against assisting smugglers.
(NAN)
