Governor Dr. Umaru Dikko Radda of Katsina State has announced the arrest of a village head who accepted ₦700,000 from bandits, enabling them to access his village.
The governor also revealed that some individuals, for as little as ₦2,000, have been volunteering information to bandits about their neighbors or relatives.
Governor Radda disclosed that the village head’s acceptance of the ₦700,000 bribe allowed bandits unrestricted access to his village, resulting in the tragic loss of around 30 lives.
He emphasized his administration’s vigorous efforts to combat poverty, recognizing its role in exacerbating insecurity. He expressed dismay over reports of individuals betraying their neighbors or relatives for small sums of money.
Regarding the village head, the governor stated: “We have arrested a village head in Guga village in Bakori local government for his involvement with bandits. He was given ₦700,000 to allow bandits access to his village, leading to the deaths of over 30 people.”
Governor Radda highlighted the government’s multifaceted approach to addressing security issues, including both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies, which have made significant progress in tackling these problems.