How Village Head in Katsina Collects ₦700k Bribe from Bandits To Enable Attack and Killing
When Dr. Umaru Dikko Radda, the Governor of Katsina State, recently called banditry a business venture for some influential individuals, many thought he was exaggerating. However, he also pointed out that poverty and injustice are significant factors driving insecurity in the country.
In a discussion with Saturday Vanguard last October, Dr. Radda emphasized his commitment to eradicating banditry with the newly launched Katsina Community Watch Corps. He recalled how bandits killed his brother and vowed to hold accountable anyone, including state officials, who collude with criminals to destabilize the state.
Dr. Radda explained the measures taken to combat banditry: “We established an intelligence unit within the Katsina Community Watch Corps, unknown even to its members, to monitor their activities and gather information. We are scrutinizing some traditional rulers and will not spare anyone, including my commissioners, involved in criminal activities. We are prioritizing the safety of over 10 million people over any individual’s interests. Our network, bolstered by intelligence from the DSS, aims to arrest and prosecute those found guilty.”
Seven months later, when asked about his progress, Dr. Radda revealed that a village head in Guga village, Bakori local government area, accepted ₦700,000 from bandits, allowing them to kill about 30 villagers. He stated that his administration is actively addressing poverty, a key factor in fueling insecurity, and noted the disheartening reality that some people betray their neighbors for as little as ₦2,000.
Regarding the village head, Dr. Radda confirmed, “We have arrested a village head in Guga village for his involvement with bandits. He was paid ₦700,000 to grant them access, resulting in the deaths of over 30 people. Our strategies include both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches, which have significantly tackled security issues.”
Despite misrepresentations of his statements, Dr. Radda emphasized the importance of transparency: “Security agencies are highly esteemed, despite their daily sacrifices. However, people from various sectors are involved in banditry. Numerous arrests and security reports prove this, including officials and traditional rulers. We must acknowledge the presence of bad elements among us and address them honestly. Concealing the truth only perpetuates the problem. It is essential to confront our issues directly to correct them.”
Reflecting on his administration’s efforts, Dr. Radda reported that in the past year, the state joint security task force neutralized 35 bandits, arrested 363, and rescued 565 kidnapping victims, demonstrating a significant impact on improving security in Katsina State.
