The Katsina State Government has attributed the majority of ongoing insecurity in parts of the state to informants and complicit community members, revealing they are responsible for 80% of bandit-related attacks.
The revelation was made by the Commissioner for Internal Security, Nasir Muazu, during a press briefing following a joint security meeting held at the Government House in Katsina on Thursday, July 31, 2025.
Muazu said investigations indicate that certain individuals within affected communities have been aiding bandits for financial gain, including selling supplies to them at exorbitant prices.
“Some community members sell fuel to bandits for as high as ₦5,000 per litre, and a single bottle of soft drink goes for about ₦3,000,” he stated.
The commissioner stressed that while security agencies have sufficient manpower to combat the crisis, the activities of local collaborators continue to undermine efforts.
“These bandits don’t know where to get these supplies without help. It is people within the communities—shop owners and traders—who provide them with fuel, food, and even drugs, often at inflated prices,” he explained.
Muazu cited one shocking case where a man conspired with bandits to kidnap his own diabetic father, who was later found in the forest with a stock of diabetic medication prepared by the abductors.
“A ransom of ₦30 million was paid for his release, with ₦8 million given to the son as a reward for facilitating the abduction,” he revealed.
He also pointed out that some informants tip off bandits about air strikes, alerting them whenever Nigerian Air Force jets leave base, which compromises planned operations and leads to failed missions.
Despite these challenges, Muazu said the state has achieved notable progress in several local government areas through military (kinetic) interventions, but stressed the importance of non-kinetic strategies—such as community engagement and intelligence gathering—for long-term peace.
“We must combine both kinetic and non-kinetic measures to achieve sustainable security in Katsina,” he concluded.
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