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Aminu Masari, Katsina State Governor, has asked Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to steer clear of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in the state.
Explaining the rational behind the decision, Governor Masari said he wants the displaced persons to return to their homes, noting that their continued stay at the camps will only encourage perpetrators of banditry to prolong their activities in the state.
The Governor stated this on Monday at the army special super camp IV, Faskari.
On concern raised about the welfare of the displaced persons, Governor Masari said the state has the capacity to adequately take care of them.
“We will not allow these NGOs under whatever guise into our IDPs camps,” he said.
“We know that the fight against bandits and banditry is not over, but we can handle our displaced persons adequately because we have sufficient food, clothing, shelter, and security for them while we strengthen efforts in restoring security for them to return to their respective homes.
“We want the IDPs to return to their homes as soon as possible because leaving them at the camp is what is giving opening for those wanting to prolong banditry.”
On ending insecurity in the state, the Governor said his administration is looking into ways of recreating local security council.
“As a government, there are certain actions, which we need to take; actions that are non-kinetic, actions that are administrative, actions that will make us look back at laws governing our local communities,” he said.
“My own thinking is that the local government reforms of 1976, which has taken all authorities from local institutions and vesting it on nobody.
“As a government, we are going through the archives to see how we can recreate village security council and every Ward in Katsina state will have similar committee to recreate village security council.
“This village security council also can stray down to remote and smaller areas so that we can have those that can be held responsible.
“We believe also that future dialogue should be conducted in each and every village by these community council.
“I think it will help greatly because the military is working very hard to restore normalcy but after that, we need to maintain and sustain peace in the villages and communities.”
