Zaharaddeen Ishaq Abubakar | Katsina Times
The Katsina State Government has raised alarm over rising cases of internal sabotage by residents, which it says is seriously undermining efforts to curb persistent insecurity across the state.
Speaking after a high-level security meeting held at the Government House on Thursday, the State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr. Nasir Mu’azu, accused sections of the population of deliberately aiding bandits through the supply of goods and intelligence.
"Despite the sacrifices of security operatives, our biggest challenge remains the cooperation some unpatriotic individuals give to these criminals. People are selling them essential goods like fuel and medicine, and worse still, giving away classified security information," Mu’azu revealed in a press briefing.
According to the Commissioner, over 80 percent of reported security breaches are linked to insider information provided by civilians. He said some residents are making huge profits by selling fuel to the bandits for as high as ₦5,000 per litre, and bottled drinks for ₦3,000 each, while common medicines are being sold to them at inflated prices running into millions of naira.
Mu’azu cited a disturbing case where a man colluded with the same bandits who abducted his own diabetic father, only to receive ₦8 million as his share after a ransom of ₦30 million was paid. “Even while the victim was in captivity, the criminals bought him insulin to keep him alive, just to make sure they got the ransom. This shows the level of coordination and betrayal from within,” he added.
The Commissioner also accused certain informants of tipping off the bandits whenever Nigerian Air Force jets take off for aerial raids, thereby weakening the effectiveness of government-led offensives.
While acknowledging some progress in parts of the state, Mu’azu insisted that military strategies alone are not enough to end the violence. He warned that unless residents stop enabling criminal activities, the government’s security efforts would continue to be frustrated.
He concluded by issuing a fresh appeal to the public: “This fight is not just for government or soldiers; everyone must stop aiding the enemies. Security is a collective responsibility, and this internal betrayal must stop if we are to make real progress.”
