A former lawmaker who represented Kaduna Central in the 8th National Assembly, Senator Shehu Sani, has criticized Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State over his proposal to reward repentant bandits with farmlands and houses.
Recall that Mr Masari had on Wednesday proposed soft approach towards bringing an end to banditry by offering houses, market stalls and farmlands to bandits willing to surrender and handover their arms to security operatives in the state.
The Secretary to the State Government, Mustapha Inuwa, had said that the state government had completed plans for the repenting bandits to leave to an approved settlement near Rugu Forest.
“This is part of a design by the government to clear the forests from being inhabited by bandits, the committee is set to work on the needed infrastructure any time from now.
“Some of the settlement areas being considered include Yantumaki-Maidabino forest area and Sabwa/Faskari forests,” Mr Inuwa was quoted saying.
Reacting on Thursday via his Twitter handle, Senator Sani, said that the proposal amounted to rewarding terror.
According to him, the gesture would only end up emboldening the criminals as well as encourage others to join criminality.
“Katsina Government proposal to offer Bandits Farmlands, Market stalls and Houses amounts to appeasing and rewarding terror.
“It would only embolden the Bandits, encourage others to join and further escalate and worsen the situation in the North West and north central,” Mr Sani tweeted.
