Banditry and other forms of criminality in Katsina State have been reduced by 60 to 70 percent in recent times, the special adviser to the governor on livestock development and management, Dr Lawal Bagiwa, has said.
In a chat with LEADERSHIP Friday in his office, he said the state government installed facilities in remote Fulani communities across 10 local government areas of the state.
Bagiwa said the development convinced the herders to give peace a chance.
He said the initiative was part of a ranch project approved to construct 14 prototype facilities in the areas, ranging from a milk centre, hospital, veterinary clinic, grazing land, school, solar power water system, and a mosque among others.
The governor’s aide said the state government after receiving N6 billion from the federal government last year commenced the installation of facilities and is now completed, ready to be handed to the beneficiaries.
Bagiwa added that the government has done its part, leaving the pastoralists to do their own part by maintaining peace and order in their respective communities to continue to enjoy the dividends of democracy in the state.
“I believe now that banditry has reduced by 60 to 70 per cent in Katsina State. You can testify that it has reduced because of what we are doing. Now they have a clean solar power borehole, they are happy taking it and there are places for them to rest while rearing cattle.
“I think we have achieved our aims what we are waiting for is to hand over all the sites to the people for utilisation,” he said.
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