Dikko Radda, the Governor of Katsina State, has alleged that some government officials and security personnel are helping bandits in the country.
Radda also mentioned that it is now very hard to stop banditry because it has turned into a “business venture.”
He made these comments on Friday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
He stated, “Now it has turned out to be a business venture. A business venture for the criminals, some people who are in government; some people who are in security outfits, and some people who are responsible for the day-to-day activities of their people.
“These are so many reasons why we are unable to bring banditry to an end.”
He also noted that those behind banditry are not doing it for political reasons, saying, “The issue of the hypothesis behind political motive as responsible for banditry is not true.”
The governor further revealed that many “northern youths are recruited into banditry with a mere N500.”
To address the rising insecurity in the northern region, some northern governors recently went on a trip to the US.
The foreign trip attracted criticism with many wondering why the meeting was held abroad instead of in Nigeria.
Radda, however, clarified that they were simply invited to attend the conference.
He added that the trip gave the governors fresh insights into insecurity in the region.
“The meeting was not at the instance of the selected governors of northern states but it was at the instance of the United States Institute of Peace. They were the people who invited us; they hosted us for the meeting. We were invited to sit with them so that we could bring about lasting solutions to the problems that are affecting our people.
“Ten governors were in the United States, Washington D.C and we had a symposium with the United States Institute of Peace so that we can bring about ideas that will end insecurity that is worrying our people and is a major problem to the subnational and they carefully chose the governors of the places affected by banditry and kidnapping,” he said.
He added that during the meeting, the governors were able to exchange ideas and interact with all stakeholders involved in achieving lasting peace and security globally.
In recent years, bandits have been repeatedly carrying out attacks on various locations, especially in rural areas. These attacks led to the widespread kidnapping and killing of innocent citizens, disrupting their businesses and daily lives.
According to findings by The PUNCH, in March alone, 165 farmers lost their lives due to attacks by these bandits, who have also prevented access to farms across the country.
Many experts believe that the continued activities of these groups can be attributed to high unemployment rates and poverty. Others suggest that there may be political motives behind these actions.
As a result, there has been a growing demand for President Bola Tinubu to implement effective measures to address these criminal activities nationwide.
In response to this situation, Tinubu has instructed the Nigerian Armed Forces to intensify their efforts against terrorists and kidnappers who are causing unrest in the nation.
He has also warned opposing actions that may weaken the country's interests, pledging his administration's dedication to the welfare of military personnel.
