Exclusive: Why I bought arms for my constituents to confront bandits – Katsina Lawmaker

The Honourable member representing Funtua State Constituency in Katsina State House of Assembly, Alhaji Abubakar Mohammed popularly known as Total has given reasons why he took the drastic action to purchase firearms to his constituents to equip them against constant assault by armed bandits.

He revealed this to our correspondent exclusively in a telephone interview Friday.

Recalled that in Bagari community located in Funtua it was recently reported that certain brave compatriots managed to repel bandits from their usual assault and in the process, one person was gunned down while others fled and the attackers made away with women and children numbering almost 200.

The bandits thereafter declared that any community that dare to repel their attack will pay billions of Naira as deterrent and face continuous attack.

Touched by such henious demands, Hon. Abubakar Mohammed visited the area and met with volunteers who took upon themselves to guard the area against the bandits attacks and bought firearms for them to assist in confronting the bandits any time they try invading the areas.

In his words Honourable Abubakar Mohammed said, “these firearms that I distributed to the people of Funtua, I did it for the people to defend themselves and their communities from the bandit’s attacks.

“The firearms are 50. Every society has law, I secured them from authorities.I engaged security forces to help train the people because Funtua is surrounded by rural areas, which started from Dikiya Makira, Maigamji, Tudun Iya Maska, and Goya.

“When bandits came to attack them they were left with huge number of casualties. As at the time I went to console them over bandits attacks, they begged me to get firearms for them to defend themselves because when the bandits invaded Bagari they pursued them with stones but if I could assist them with firearms it would help to engage the insurgents in order to protect and rescue their brothers and sisters.”

Hon. Mohammed further said “I don’t know anybody in the ward, but security agencies know the people. They selected, screened and trained them before giving them the firearms.

“When they asked me I promised them I would follow lawful means to secure firearms for them to defend their communities but not to fight any body.

“There is reduction in the numbers of bandit attacks because of the measures initiated by the Katsina State Governor and security agencies. When the rainy season set in we are always in fear of being harmed if we go out to our farms to plant crops and even during harvest.

“The people would not use the firearms to fight against one another. Those who received the firearms are responsible and they were advised not to use it against each other. They told them not to use it in the night but only for patrol.

“The people who have access to the firearms are volunteer groups who have been protecting the community,” he reiterated.