Some hours before Saturday’s polls, voters in some communities in the Kankara local government area of Katsina State said they would not participate in the exercise as a result of the insecurity in the areas.
The communities are part of the banditry-ravaged areas that are suffering insecurity in the northwestern state.
Locals told BBC Hausa that the terrorists are in control of the communities, and they cannot go out to participate their civic responsibility despite having Private Voter’s Cards (PVCs).
Communities like Bauure, Yar Kuka and several others are all under the control of the bandits and they are not in touch with the government.
They explained that the area is in total control of the bandits and believe election wound be impeded there. “In short, we have nothing more than our lives,” they said. “It is not the issue of elections because the terrorists are ruling us and they think that the government has forgotten us.”
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Responding, Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmad Katsina, the security advisor to the governor of Katsina state said the voters from the communities have not been forgotten.
He insisted that the government will ensure that they participate in the elections as more security is on its toes to provide a conducive environment for all the voters.
