The Katsina State Government has described as untrue allegations in some quarters that some Akwa Ibom State indigenes resident in the northern state were attacked and displaced by bandits.
The Akwa Ibom State Government were said to have evacuated the 34 returnees, who got stranded following series of attacks by insurgents in parts of Katsina State, to Uyo, on Saturday.
However, at a press briefing with some stakeholders from Akwa Ibom State, on Monday, the Senior Special Adviser on Security Matters to the Katsina State Government, Ahmed Ibrahim, said that those who orchestrated the plan took advantage of the insecurity situation in the state to deceive their (Akwa Ibom) government.
Obong Samson Patrick, pioneer Chairman of Akwa Ibom Indigenes Residents in Katsina State, said that the action was mischievously contrived for selfish gains.
Obong appealed to the people and government of Katsina State to continue to relate with the residents of Akwa Ibom State in the spirit of statesmanship and continue to maintain peace with visitors.
Ibrahim said that the insecurity in Katsina State had begun to fade out, stressing that the state was already becoming stable.
He said, “There is no single situation where a non-indigene had been attacked or subjected to banditry in the state.
“We want to draw the attention of Akwa Ibom State Government and other state governments to this. People of mischievous and questionable character are trying to justify their reasons for returning to their home state.
“We want to assure the general public that Katsina State is safe and anybody that is staying in the state is safe. All of you can attest to it that in the whole of North-West, no state is as stable as Katsina.”
