The governor of Kastina, Aminu Bello Masari, has urged citizens to arise and defend themselves against their attackers.
According to him, security is everybody’s responsibility. It is not the government business alone to safeguard the citizenry, he said.
The governor said this during his visit to Jibia town to condole with the families of the people that were recently crushed by operatives of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) through reckless driving.
Masari noted that it is morally wrong for people to submit cheaply to the bandits without any attempt to defend themselves, according to a statement by his Media Aide, Malam Abdu Labaran.
“It is the people’s meek submission that emboldens the bandits to continue with their heinous activities with murderous frequency.”
“People must take their mind away from the notion that security is government’s sole responsibility,” Masari said.
Meanwhile, the governor assured that those killed by the customs operatives would not die in vain.
“Government is taking all the necessary legal steps to seek redress for the families of the deceased as well as those who sustained various degrees of injuries.
“Legal experts have already been consulted to advise on the way forward to ensure speedy (legal) resolution of the matter,” he said.
The governor cautioned the families of the victims not to succumb to any enticement from the NSC.
“Doing so will compromise and jeopardise the government’s efforts to secure justice for the bereaved and injured.
