Francis Sardauna in Katsina
The Katsina State Children’s Parliament yesterday lamented the spate of banditry and other crimes bedevilling the state, adding that most primary schools in the state had been taken over by the hoodlums as their hideouts in rural settlements across the state.
The parliament during its fourth sitting at the State House of Assembly, called on the state government, to as a matter of urgency, intensify efforts in checkmating the carnage and inaugurate the State Child Protection Law (CPL) Implementation Committee to avert sexual and other issues afflicting children in the state.
In a motion titled, ‘Persistent Insecurity in the Katsina State’, the Parliament Member representing Batsari Constituency, Umma Abdulbasir, said most primary schools in the state, especially those in rural villages were not operating due to the persistent attacks by the bandits.
The sitting was sponsored by Save the Children International (SCI), through its Reaching and Empowering Adolescents to make informed Choices for their Health (REACH) and Towards Ending Child Marriage (TECM) projects funded by Global Affairs Canada and Netherland in collaboration with the Katsina State House of Assembly.
She explained that primary schools in Batsari, Safana, Danmusa, Jibia, Faskari and Kankara have been christened as “no go areas because the bandits are always present to strike, going with their guns in broad daylight riding motorclyces in tens.”
She added that their parents could no longer go to farm due to the activities of bandits, kidnappers and cattle rustlers, saying the insecurity confronting the state if not addressed, hunger and starvation would engulf the state.
She said: “I stand before this honourable House to present this very important motion on the current security situation of our dear state. The issue is becoming so rampant that the teeming populace are worried about.
“So, children are looking for a Messiah to come to their rescue. The lives of children are in danger with various attacks by the bandits in some areas of the state like Batsari, Safana, Danmusa, Jibia, Faskari and Kankara. Likewise, our educational system is being distabilised in such a way that the school calendar is no longer being used because most of our primary schools are not in operation due to banditry.
“The areas are termed as no go areas because the bandits are always present to strike, going with their guns in broad daylight riding motorclyes in tens. More also, the bandits’ activities have risen to rape. Mr. Speaker, Sir, we should make the life of our children better by restoring peace in our dear state.”
The member representing Safana Constituency, Hon. Ibrahim Sani, who seconded the motion, urged the state government and security agencies to retrieve the said primary schools from the hoodlums and put measures in place to curb banditry, kidnapping and other related crimes facing the state.
In their separate motions, Hon. Aisha Nakano Idris, Hajara Yusuf and Aliyu Nasir of Katsina, Danja and Kurfi Constituencies, admonished the state government to inaugurate a committee for the implementation of Child Protection Law as well as to develop and roll out working plan for the speedy implementation of the law.
The Speaker of the Parliament, Hon. Ibrahim Maharazu, who presided over the sitting directed the Clerk of the House to produce clean copies of their resolutions and forward them to the executive arm of government for scrutiny and considerations.
