Katsina to conduct headcount of herdsmen

The Katsina State Government has concluded plans to conduct a census to identify indigenous herdsmen to curb the influx of foreign Fulani from neighbouring states and Niger Republic into the state.
Governor Aminu Bello Masari disclosed this when he received a delegation from Safana local Government Area.
Governor Masari said the census would assist government with the authentic record of the population of herdsmen and their locations.
According to him, the measure would also stop the influx of criminal foreign Fulani from within the country and other neighbouring West African countries.
Masari noted that crimes such as cattle rustling and armed robbery were not committed by indigenous herdsmen but by Fulani from foreign lands.
He said that his administration was collaborating with security agents and traditional rulers to tackle the problem of cattle rustling and other crimes, especially in the rural areas.
“We spend N120 million every month on security. The amount covers allowances and other logistics for security agents,” the governor said.
Earlier, the member representing Safana Local Government Area in the state House of Assembly, Hon. Abduljalal Runka, said that the visit to the governor was to express appreciation to the Masari administration.
Runka said that the state government had appropriated money in the 2016 budget for the construction of earth dam in Tsako village, the electrification of Marna village and the construction of Safana-kurmawaLili-Gora road.
The lawmaker, however, called on the state government to look into the deplorable condition of primary health centres and the posting of medical doctors to Safana town.