GOVERNOR AMINU MASARI WITH HINDSIGHT, WE SHOULD NEVER HAVE NEGOTIATED WITH BANDITS

Katsina State Governor Amina Masari has said with the benefit of hindsight, his government should never have negotiated with bandits, let alone grant them amnesty. Although Masari said he never regretted his decision at the time, he admitted that information available to him confirmed that engaging the bandits was not the right thing to do.

Consequently, based on current understanding of the situation, the governor said he had set in motion plans to proscribe open grazing of cattle in the state. He said once certain structures were put in place for ranching, nomadic herding would be outlawed in the state.

Masari disclosed these during an interview on a national television.

He insisted that open grazing of animals should not be encouraged in any form, adding that the practice is even contrary to Islamic doctrines, which forbid allowing animals into other peoples' land.