The Nigeria Union of Journalists in Katsina State has organised a roundtable with heads of security agencies and other stakeholders to fashion out lasting solution to insecurity.
Chairman of the council, Alhaji Tukur Dan-Ali said the parley brought together journalists, civil society organisations and communities to brainstorm with heads of security agencies on ways to bring a decisive end to insecurity particularly in eight frontline Local Government Areas that are battling banditry and kidnapping.
National secretary, ‘Voice of the People’ Malam Bishir Dauda advised security agencies to reintroduce vigilante groups, who were banned last year.
Vigilante groups are neighbourhood watchmen that are acquainted with the terrain in their localities and could serve as valuable guides for security agencies, he said.
Another contributor, Dr. Mukhtar Alkasim advised the federal government to recruit more qualified personnel into the police force and urged security agencies to work in synergy and deploy modern technology to fight criminality.
The state police spokesman, SP Gambo Isah said hundreds of kidnappers, armed bandits, armed robbers and illegal arms dealers have been arrested within 9 months.
The suspects have been charged to court, he said.
Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Mustafa Inuwa urged journalists and civil society organisations to be actively involved in find lasting solutions to insecurity.
He said, “I particularly challenge journalists to carry out investigations and report on issues objectively, it is only by so doing that certain challenges, such as insecurity, could be surmounted”.
