Katsina Govt: 80% of Bandit Attacks Aided by Community Informants, Sabotaging Security Efforts

The Katsina State Government has revealed that a staggering 80 percent of bandit-related attacks in the state are being supported by informants and members of local communities. This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Alhaji Nasir Mu’azu, during a press briefing in Katsina on Thursday, where he emphasized the growing challenge posed by local collaborators.

According to Mu’azu, individuals in affected communities supply bandits in the forests with food, fuel, drugs, and other essential items—often at highly inflated prices. He cited instances where a bottle of Coca-Cola was sold for ₦3,000 and fuel for ₦5,000 per litre to the criminals. Some community members also provide hard drugs to the bandits, turning the illicit trade into a profitable enterprise.

The commissioner further disclosed that in some alarming cases, locals have conspired directly with the criminals. One such case involved a man who worked with bandits to kidnap his own diabetic father. The abductors, anticipating the victim’s medical needs, had already stocked diabetic medication, and after a ₦30 million ransom was paid, the son received ₦8 million for his role in the betrayal.

Mu’azu also raised concerns about informants tipping off bandits whenever Nigerian Air Force (NAF) jets are deployed for operations. These alerts allow the criminals to evade targeted airstrikes by hiding under civilian protection, severely undermining military efforts.

While acknowledging that the activities of bandits themselves account for just 20 percent of the broader security crisis, Mu’azu stressed that lasting peace cannot be achieved without community cooperation. He urged residents to provide critical intelligence to help combat insecurity, assuring them that all such reports would be handled with strict confidentiality.