Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State, has called on the Federal Government to make provision for special funds to resettle victims of banditry and cattle rustling in Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara states.
Masari made the call at the opening of a special Town Hall meeting organised by the Federal Ministry of Information on Banditry, Cattle rustling and Kidnapping on Tuesday in Katsina.
The governor said the funds should be channelled to resettlement and rehabilitation of victims in the three states.
“I will like to call on the Federal government to consider a special subvention or grant to the affected three states in the North West to adequately rehabilitate the three states.
“The special intervention fund will also be used for other security operations that will bring lasting peace in the three states.
“It could as well assist the states to cushion the challenges of resettlement and rehabilitation of the victims, repentant bandits and their families.
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“The three states governments of Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara dearly needed the funds to assist several victims that have returned to their villages and are finding life very difficult,“he said.
In his remarks, Governor Aminu Tambuwal called on the Federal government to introduce measures that would assist women displaced by insecurity to start a new life.
“Several women in the three states were currently living from hand to mouth, they badly need capital to start their own businesses.
“My government has provided some food items and little money to the women to embark on small trading but it is not enough as some of them have lost their bread winners,“`he said.
Also speaking, Governor Bello Matawalle, said that women and children were the most vulnerable during crisis.
He said several villagers in Zamfara were willing to return to their villages but the bandits had burnt their houses and their food stores.
The governor said that most of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state were forced to remain in the camps as they had no where to go.(NAN)