The Katsina State Government has raised fears concerning this year’s elections in the state.
The government said the insecurity in the state may affect the elections.
The Secretary to the Katsina State Government, Mustapha Inuwa, in a press briefing on Friday, said the current security challenges bedeviling the state may affect the conduct of the 2019 elections.
The most affected LGAs include: Jibia, Batsari, Safana, Danmusa, Kankara, Faskari, Sabuwa and Dandume, all sharing borders with the dreaded Rugu forest.
Inuwa said, “Certainly, if you allow this thing to continue, whether you like it or not, in some areas, it will affect the election.
“Like in the front line areas that you are talking about, in some of the polling units and wards, when you ask an electoral officer or ad-hoc officer to go, they may not go.
“So we have to secure the places before the election. And these we are trying to ensure we do.
“The frontline affected local governments are Jibia, Batsari, Safana, Danmusa, Kankara, Faskari, Sabuwa and Dandume. The effect goes beyond that up-to Kafur. There was also report of case of kidnap in Zango.
“The number of people kidnapped in Katsina within six to eight weeks now, I believed has been so much.
“If you look at the record of kidnapping we had before now, this current number has overthrown the record.
“So, is rarely unfortunate; it is sad and no any responsible government will allow this happen.
“So, we decided to call for that meeting, the meeting which His Excellency rightly said the state is literally under siege by kidnappers.
“The meeting is to demonstrate further the concern of the Governor on the challenges we are facing, especially in recent times.”
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