Dikko Radda, the governor of Katsina State, has accused some government officials and security personnel of helping banditry in the country.
Radda noted that ending banditry has become tough since it has evolved into a “business venture.”
He stated this on Friday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today. He explained, “Now it has turned out to be a business enterprise. A business endeavour for criminals, government officials, security personnel, and those in charge of their people’s daily activities.
He also stated that individuals behind banditry are not doing so for political reasons, stating, “The issue of the hypothesis behind political motive as responsible for banditry is not true.”
The governor further stated that many “northern youths are recruited into banditry with a mere N500.”
To address the region’s rising instability, some northern governors recently travelled to the United States. The foreign travel sparked criticism, with many questioning why the meeting was held abroad rather than in Nigeria.
However, Radda stated that they were only invited to the conference. Related News He noted that the trip provided the governors with new insights into the region’s security situation.
“The meeting was convened by the United States Institute of Peace rather than the selected governors of northern states. They were the ones that invited us and hosted us for the meeting. We were invited to sit down with them in order to find long-term answers to the difficulties that our people face.
Ten governors were in Washington, D.C., for a symposium with the United States Institute of Peace to discuss ideas for ending insecurity, which concerns our people and is a major problem at the subnational level, and they carefully selected governors from areas affected by banditry and kidnapping,” he said.
He noted that during the meeting, the governors were able to share ideas and communicate with all stakeholders interested in achieving long-term peace and security around the world.
In recent years, bandits have repeatedly raided numerous regions, particularly rural ones. These raids resulted in the widespread kidnapping and murder of innocent civilians, damaging their companies and personal life.
According to media reports, 165 farmers were killed in March alone as a result of attacks by these bandits, who have also cut off access to farms across the country. Many experts feel that these groups’ continued operations are due to significant unemployment and poverty. Others argue that these activities may be motivated by politics.
As a result, there is a rising call for President Bola Tinubu to take serious steps to combat these illegal activities across the country.
In reaction to this circumstance, Tinubu has directed the Nigerian Armed Forces to increase their efforts against terrorists and kidnappers generating disturbance in the country.
He has also warned against actions that could jeopardise national interests, assuring service members and women of his administration’s dedication to their well-being.