Katsina State Governor Rt. Hon.Aminu Bello Masari has warned that government was determined to deal ruthlessly with violent offenders to make the society safe for law-abiding citizens.
Governor Masari, who spoke in Dungun Muazu village in Sabuwa Local Government area recently, said that government had the resources, the personnel, the military might and the willpower to deal ruthlessly with anybody or group whose activities pose serious threat to peace in the society, stressing that his administration is determined to bring lasting peace in the state.
The Governor commiserate with the people of the area over the loss of eight members of the community who died following an attack by alleged cattle rustlers on Wednesday last week, he declared that there was no reason why some criminals would hold the society to ransome when "the government has the resources, the personnel, the military might and the willpower to deal with the situation for good".
The Governor however, cautioned against blanket judgement on the activities of some criminals, saying it is wrong to regard all Fulani herdsmen as criminals.
He said that since no ethnic group had the monopoly of virtue or vice, it is therefore wrong on the account of the misdeeds of a few bad elements to generalise the entire members of the group as criminals.
Governor Masari also said much as the government was determined to bring the culprits to book, it was even more determined to ensure that the innocent is not wrongly punished, as doing so would amount to great injustice.
"We must not in our haste to bring the guilty to book punish the innocent.That would amount to great injustice".
He charged security agencies and traditional rulers to be just and fair in their dealings with the people, stating that justice and fairness are the two most necessary ingredients for peace.
According to him, discontent in the society is often caused by the absence of justice and fairness from those in the position of authority.
"It is our duty as leaders to always be just and fair to the people, as only that will ensure sustainable peace in the society".
Governor Masari also canvassed support for the Federal government's Green Alternative policy to revive agriculture and livestock in the country, saying that while the two resources are everlasting, all other sources of income such as crude oil and solid minerals are transient.
According to Governor Masari, the Green Alternative policy may only succeed when farmers and herdsmen live peacefully with one another.
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