The Katsina State Government said it has earmarked N100 million for the rehabilitation of Shinfida Village in the Jibia Local Government Area affected by banditry.
Governor Aminu Masari stated this yesterday while responding to Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State who was in Katsina as part of his consultations on his presidential ambition.
He explained that over 13,500 residents of that community were forced out of the area to seek refuge in the neighbouring Niger Republic.
“Currently, we are spending over N100 million to rehabilitate Shinfida Village which was sacked by bandits that forced 13,500 people to move to the Niger Republic.
“Critical to us is the security and rehabilitation of those villages and communities, restoring their economic way of life and providing basic education.”
Masari said the critical and urgent need of the state was the rehabilitation of the rural economy of the most affected victims.
He lamented that residents of the state, particularly those living in 13 local councils that bordered Rugu Forest had suffered severe attacks and killings by the terrorists.
Masari noted that the state government, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), would prioritise the education of the banditry-orphaned children and widows across the frontline areas of the state.
He reiterated that his government and the UNDP would ensure compulsory and free education of each orphan from primary to secondary levels.
The governor added that widows would be provided with financial support to start local businesses for self-reliance.
“We have completed a census of all women who lost their husbands. We have the list of all the orphans, widows and the destroyed houses,” Masari said.
