Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State, has alleged that some government officials and security personnel are aiding banditry because it is now a “business venture.”
Radda made the claims while featuring on Channels Television’s program, Politics Today on Friday 3rd of May 2024. He said it has become difficult to end banditry in Nigeria.
The governor said; “Now it has turned out to be a business venture. A business venture for the criminals 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.”
Radda, however, noted that the elements behind banditry are not doing it for political reasons. The governor disclosed further that many northern youths are recruited into banditry with a mere N500.
The governor noted “The issue of the hypothesis behind political motives being responsible for banditry is not true.”
As part of moves to tackle the region’s insecurity, some northern governors recently went to the United States to hold a meeting, and though they came under heavy criticism, governor Radda said 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 subnationals and they carefully chose the governors of the places affected by banditry and kidnapping. All of us sat for three days and we were able to cross-fertilise ideas and interact with all stakeholders that are involved in bringing about lasting peace and security globally,” the Katsina governor said.
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