Katsina State government and the Katsina Community Security Initiative (KCSI) have traded words over disruption of a meeting by alleged thugs on Tuesday.
KCSI convener, Dr. Bashir Kurfi, alleged that a peace summit organised by the group in Katsina town was violently disrupted and dispersed by paid thugs.
Though the convener failed to specifically point an accusing finger at the sponsor of the attack, it was alleged that the state government was involved in it.
While reacting, the state commissioner for information and culture, Dr. Bala Salisu Zango, dismissed the allegations that the government sponsored the disruption, noting that Katsina had even sent a delegation to a similar event in Abuja.
He therefore condemned the attack on the participants of the summit organised by the Katsina State Security Initiative in Katsina town.
Dr. Zango described the incident as “barbaric” and a violation of citizens’ right to assembly, reaffirming Governor Dikko Umaru Radda’s commitment to peace and security, highlighting ongoing initiatives to tackle insecurity.
The meeting, which brought together eminent Katsina State indigenes from Abuja, Kaduna, Zaria, and other parts of the country, aimed to find lasting solutions to the persistent problem of banditry and kidnappings in the state.
Addressing journalists on the incident, Dr. Kurfi explained that the disruption occurred just as he was delivering his opening remarks, when the hired thugs stormed the event centre with threats of violence against the participants.
He expressed disappointment that while similar meetings had earlier been held successfully in Abuja, Kaduna, and Zaria without rancour, the Katsina edition was cut short under tense and hostile circumstances.
They maintained that the incident would not silence efforts to contribute towards peacebuilding in Katsina State.
The government sympathised with the organisers, emphasised openness to partnerships, and urged the media to verify information before publication to avoid misinformation.
It assured continued collaboration with security agencies, community leaders, and stakeholders in the fight for lasting peace in Katsina.
