90% of bandits in Katsina are locals, says Gov Radda
Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina state has highlighted the alarming fact that approximately 90 percent of the bandits terrorizing the region are not outsiders but are, in fact, locals.
In an interview on Channels Television, he stated, “These boys know the terrain better, they know those people better. Most of the perpetrators of banditry are from our own area. They are not aliens. Ninety-something percent of them, we know their fathers, their grandfathers, and they are living with us.”
Radda expressed concern over the ongoing insecurity in the state, which he identified as a significant barrier to meaningful development, while acknowledging the role of governors as security chiefs but noted that the military and police operate independently, complicating the security landscape.
To enhance security efforts, the state has established a local outfit comprised of youths from areas most affected by banditry. “This situation requires local involvement, and that was why we created this outfit, so that people at the local level can provide us with information,” Radda emphasized.
He underscored the critical need for local knowledge in combatting banditry and urged the importance of identifying informants who support criminal activities, as he opined that these issues is essential to restoring safety and security in Katsina state.
Source: Daily Trust
