Masari blames high crime rate on illiteracy

From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina

Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State has said that illiteracy was the root cause of the menace of armed banditry, rape and other crimes bedeviling the state.
Masari state this yesterday at a two- day seminar/training for Juma’at Imams organized by the Jama’atu Nasril Islam JNI, Katsina State chapter.
According to him, an educated citizen will not throw children in fire and wait until they are burnt before living the village.
He said those involved in these heinous crimes are illiterates that do not have the basic knowledge of either the Quran nor the western education.
The Governor who described such scenario as inhuman, said the imams, traditional institutions and community leaders have very important role to play to ensure that their followers get the right education.
He blamed the imams for such a situation, stressing that, rather than educate their people on teachings in the holy books have turned themselves to sycophants of some unpatriotic citizens in the society.
Masari urged the imams, traditional institutions and community leaders to always strive hard to educate their people to reduce the level of literacy in the society.
“If the imams and others were delivering the right teachings during the Juma’at sermons, the people would not have turned to drug addicts, kidnappers, arm bandits and other vices bedeviling our state”.
He therefore charged them to take their roles serious by ensuring that, they imbibe the right knowledge to the people to have a safe and peaceful society, state and country in general.
Governor Masari however, pleaded with the state JNI to organize similarly seminars and trainings at the local government areas to enable the imams in the rural areas to benefit to ensure the return of peace across the state.