Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State says academic activities in many parts of the State have grounded to a halt due to the nefarious actions of rampaging bandits.
The governor disclosed that many schools in the state have been shut down as bandits turn them into their hideouts.
Radda made the disclosure at the convocation ceremony of the Federal University Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State, held last weekend.
He said the deepening security crisis in the state has prompted him create a security officer to address the menace.
“Many of our frontline local governments have had their schools closed due to banditry, and in some cases, schools have become a den for bandits,” Mr Radda said.
“This is why we have established the Katsina State Community Watch Corps to fight insecurity and create a foundation for our youth to learn and thrive.”
He stated that high on the list of what he planned to do as governor was to tackle the disturbing out-of-school children issue.
Radda further said his administration will “focus on total education reform with the establishment of an Education Services Delivery Unit to ensure quality assurance and monitoring and evaluation of our education system.
“My administration has made out-of-school children a main priority, and we will continue to work with all partners to reduce the numbers. We will also work with religious schools to provide academic tools for students in a bid to prepare them for the world ahead.”
Radda’s statements lent credence to the concerns of former Katsina governor Aminu Masari’s on heightened insecurity as a result of banditry in the state.
On several occasions, Mr Masari charged hapless citizens to rise up in self-defence against bandits