The Katsina State Elders’ Forum has accused Nigeria’s Defence Ministers, Muhammad Badaru Abubakar and Bello Matawalle of gross ineptitude in their handling of the menace of banditry in the northwest.
The elders made the accusations at a press conference in Katsina, convened by the forum’s Secretary, Alhaji Ali Muhammad,
According to the elders, the two ministers have done nothing tangible in addressing the security problem in the region they both hail from.
They expressed concern over the unabating attacks on residents by bandits, and the seeming lack of concern about the hardships being faced by those displaced by the bandits.
The forum noted with sadness that neither President Bola Tinubu nor any of the ministers ever bothered to visit and commiserate with the people of Katsina state over the recurring killings in different parts of the state.
“We have complained severally to the federal government to complement what the state government is doing, but unfortunately, the federal government has not lived up to expectations.
“It is really unfortunate the so-called defence ministers are all from the north, but they have not done enough to protect the north, and this banditry is taking place only in this part of the country.
“They have killed hundreds of people here in Katsina and none of the ministers or the president deemed it necessary to come and condoled with the affected families and provide some succour to those who lost their people and properties,” they added.
The elders said the federal government must adopt new approaches to end the security challenges, including the setting up of specialsed Battalions of soldiers who are experts in jungle warfare, and issuing deadlines to service chiefs to either flush out the bandits or be sacked.
The forum also spoke on the the rising prices of food and other commodities, which was exercerbating hunger and abject poverty in Nigeria.
They described the situation as “very serious”, and urged the President to drop ministers not advising him well and bring on board “people with good ideas that will help him run his government the way Nigerians will be happy.”
