Security situation in Nigeria surmountable – Army Chief, Yahaya

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Yahaya Faruk, has said that with determination and the right efforts, the Nigeria security challenges are surmountable.

General Yahaya, who is on a two-day operational visit to the military formation in the state made the disclosure when he paid a courtesy visit to Governor Aminu Bello Masari at the state government house on Thursday.

The COAS, who arrived Katsina Wednesday night, was received by Governor Aminu Bello Masari and some members of his cabinet at the state’s Government House, Thursday morning.

While speaking at the reception organized in his honour, Gen. Yahaya noted the existing synergy among the security agencies in the state and assured Governor Masari that the military would continue to work with other security agencies in the state to restore relative peace back to the state.

He also commended Governor Masari for providing support and logistics to the military formation in the state.

In his remark, Governor Masari noted that the banditry situation in the state is quite unpleasant with the daily reported severe attack witnessed in 10 of the most affected local government in the state.

However, he said the situation has considerably improved when compared to last year.

“Here in Katsina, if we say we’re very happy we are not honest. We’re disturbed with this issue of Banditry accompanied by kidnapping, raping of innocent women, armed robbery on our highways.

“Every day we pray to God. We thank God definitely when we compared our situation six months even last year, we need to thank God that there is some progress in restoration of normalcy in our state.”

As part of effort to reinstate normalcy in the state, Masari informed the COAS that the state has inaugurated the three tier security committee across the state to that effect.

“Here in Katsina, we have created three tiers security committees, from the community to the local, up to the state level, aimed at ensuring peace in our communities,”Masari stated

Governor Masari equally solicited the support of the press in bringing banditry to an end in the state. He stressed that the media has a critical role to play in winning the war against banditry in the state and nation entirely. He also admonished them to avoid reporting in a way that would cause more trouble for the country.

“Media has a critical role to play. I know good news and bad news to a newsman, but news can become too bad when it deplores the atmosphere. There are many ways in reporting what is right and if you know what you’re going to report will create more problem, why reporting it to create problem?, Masari asked

General Yahaya also paid homage to the Emir of Katsina, HRH. Muhammad Kabir.
He thanked HRH. for always giving a listening ear to the military formation in the state.

The Chief of Army Staff would tomorrow also be paying homage to the Emir of Daura, HRH Umar Farouq Umar while reaching out to other military formation in the state.