CSOs Warns Of Impending Food Crisis In Katsina Over Banditry

The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), have announced that the spate of banditry and other security challenges affecting some communities in Katsina State may activate a looming food crisis in the state, if pressing and intense measures were not taken by government and security agencies.

The CSOs strengthened that the upcoming food crisis looming in the state as a result of lull in farming activities caused by the horrible activities of bandits and other criminals terrorising the state, should be sufficiently addressed by the state government.

The State Chairman of CSOs, Mr. Abdurrahman Abdullahi Dutsin-ma while speaking yesterday at an event to mark this year’s national day of mourning at the Katsina NUJ Secretariat, said the state government had done well in lessening insecurity but more needed to be done to encourage farmers to commence farming activities.

He said: “As the rainy season is fast approaching, security measures need to be provided to enable our farmers harvest their farmlands because with the way things are going, farmers will find it difficult to cultivate their land which may cause a serious food security not the state alone but the nation at large.”

He praised the state government for its plan to assist victims of banditry, particularly orphans and widows, in terms of free education, healthcare services and supportive feeding “but more effort should be put in place to ensure sustainable peace in the state.”

He, therefore, berated civil society organisations in the state to point their searchlights on the situation of children and women who lost their parents and husbands to banditry and persuaded residents to be security conscious and prayerful for God’s intervention.