Insecurity: Katsina Gov bans jerrycan fuel sales, shuts POS centres

Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State has banned jerrycan fuel sales and shut down POS centres with the view to disrupting the activities and support networks of bandits and kidnappers operating across the state.

The measures, contained in a new Executive Order, were unveiled following an emergency security meeting involving security agencies, traditional rulers and other key stakeholders to address the persistent security challenges in parts of the state.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed, said the Katsina State Government remained committed to taking all lawful and necessary steps to ensure communities remain safe, secure and conducive to economic and social development.

The governor said the move is intended to prevent fuel supplies from reaching criminal elements operating from forests and other remote hideouts.

According to the governor, intelligence reports and security assessments indicated that some of the facilities were being exploited by criminal networks to coordinate and sustain their activities.

The Executive Order further imposes a total ban on the use of motorcycles in Matazu and Musawa Local Government Areas, a measure aimed at restricting the movement of bandits and kidnappers who often rely on motorcycles to carry out attacks and evade security operatives.

Radda reiterated that the protection of lives and property remains the foremost responsibility of his administration and assured residents of continued collaboration with security agencies to restore lasting peace and stability across the state.

He urged citizens to comply fully with the new directives and support security operations by providing timely and credible information that could aid efforts to tackle criminal elements.

The governor also warned that violators of the Executive Order would face strict sanctions, stressing that his administration would not tolerate any breach of the directives.