By Augustine Okezie, Katsina and Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

Katsina State Governor Aminu Masari yesterday lamented that the government and security agencies have failed to secure Nigerians.

He regretted that security agents who are directly involved in the task of protecting Nigerians have lost their lives in the course of duty.

Also yesterday, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) took a swipe at the Federal Government over the worsening insecurity.

Masari, in an interview with Hausa Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in Katsina, however, said that government was praying for an end to insecurity before the May 29, 2023 handover of leadership mantle to a new administration.

He said his administration would not forgive the recently turbaned terror suspect, Ada Aleru, Sarkin Fulanin Yandoto.

Masari said:”Security officials and we, the government are who the people rely on to protect them, and we have failed in doing so.

“But if you take a look at the cause of the failure, a lot of security operatives have been killed. Not up to two weeks ago, a commissioner of police lost his life; an inspector lost his life; soldiers have been killed and officers have lost their lives in their efforts to tackle insecurity.

“Insecurity has not just affected Katsina State only, it has affected almost every state in Nigeria and also some of our neighbours like Niger and Mali.

“There has been improvement unlike before, but we haven’t reached where we want to and we are praying to God we will overcome and tackle the issue of insecurity before handing over to the next administration.”

The governor said he was alarmed to hear that a bandit declared wanted by both the government and the state Police Command, Aleru, was given a chieftaincy title.

Masari said: “The conferment of a traditional title on the terrorist by an Emir in the neighbouring Zamfara State came to us as a surprise.

“Even if Aleru has accepted peace accord and is no longer seen as a bandit in Zamfara state, Katsina state would always consider him as one.”

The governor also disclosed that when he heard of the conferment, he tried to contact his counterpart in Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, but to no avail.

He said: “It’s surprising because Katsina and Zamfara are the same. If a neighbour doesn’t support his neighbour, do you think he would be supported in his time of travails?

“So, it surprised me how they looked away from the travail of their neighbours in Katsina. It affected them too because a traitor when he is done with your enemy would turn towards you.

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“We’ve not forgiven him and just as the police in Katsina said, they’re still looking for him.  For me, the one I’ve business with is the Zamfara Governor and I tried reaching out to him but he is not around and I did not get him.

“The suspension of the Emir and inauguration of an investigative committee show the state government is taking action. So, we’ll arrest him when we see him.”

The state Police Command had earlier yesterday restated that the turbaned terror suspect remained a wanted man.

Its spokesman, Gambo Isa, told reporters  in Katsina  that the N5 million bounty placed on Aleru “is still in place”.

Isa said: “We saw what he did in Kadisau and Faskari where over 200 people, including women and children, were killed by his group.

“We declared him wanted and we’re still looking for him. So, the N5 million bounty is still in place.”

TUC: Fed. Govt spending on security, a waste  

TUC described what it called ”the millions of naira”   spent on the security sector as a waste.

It called on the government to name and shame sponsors of insecurity in the country.

TUC President Quadri Olaleye stated this during the 12th triennial national delegate conference of the congress in Abuja.

Lamenting recent security breaches and killings across the country, Olayeye said: “It is obvious the millions of naira invested into national security is a waste of resources.

“The terrorists are emboldened by the day making Nigerians more vulnerable. This ugly development keeps investors, especially foreigners away.

“We urge the Federal Government to, for once, summon the political will to name, shame and end the killing of Nigerians in churches, mosques, roads and their houses. Nigerians want to sleep with their two eyes closed.”

The union also called on the government and the National Assembly to stop what it described as “malicious agenda”’ of privatising Unity Schools in the country.

It added: “We are not unaware of the serious conspiracy to privatise the 110 Federal Government Colleges and the push in the National Assembly to actualise the malicious agenda.

“There is nowhere in the world where secondary education is run as a profit-making venture; we wonder why ours is different. We warn that we are not going to allow our collective patrimony to be sold to a handful of individuals and the highest bidder.”