Katsina insecurity: Radda accuses govt officials of leaking intelligence to bandits

Governor Dikko Radda has alleged that informants within government circles, security agencies and local communities are frustrating efforts to tackle banditry in Katsina State.

Mr Radda said the informants leak sensitive information to bandits, helping them evade arrest and launch attacks on communities and security operatives.

The governor made the allegation during an interview on Thursday.

According to him, the fight against insecurity is being undermined by individuals who secretly supply intelligence to criminal groups.

He cited the example of a notorious bandit identified simply as Mohammed, claiming that informants within communities and official circles regularly alert him about security operations.

“This notorious person disturbing us — we know him. He is Mohammed; that is his name. Everybody knows him. His father, mother and grandfather were born there. But the problem we have is the community. The communities are not giving the right information. In a way, some of them are helping him,” he said.

“It is not hidden because he gets information. The day I called for a high-level security meeting at the Government House on how to deal with the situation, five minutes after the meeting, he already knew what we discussed.

“There are moles giving him information among us. In fact, he has developed a new strategy where he incites villages to protest against the government so they can pressure the government not to pursue him,” the governor added.

Mr Radda further alleged that some informants within communities alert bandits whenever security operatives are mobilised for operations.

“Whenever there is information about an attack and security operatives move to the area, the moles within the community will call and inform him that security personnel are coming and which route they are taking, allowing them to lay ambushes for the operatives,” he said.

“So, this is the kind of situation we are in. There are moles among us, moles among the security agencies, and moles among the communities.”

Speaking on negotiations with bandits, the governor said he initially opposed dialogue with criminal groups but later allowed some communities to engage them after residents appealed for peace talks.

According to him, some local governments that entered into peace agreements with bandits have not recorded attacks in over a year.

“I was the one who initially took the position against negotiating with bandits. But when the situation became unbearable, communities approached me and said these people were ready to lay down their arms and they had suffered so much without adequate protection from security agencies,” he said.

“I told them they could go ahead, but I would not be part of it. As I speak with you today, there are local governments that entered into peace negotiations with bandits, and for over a year there have been no attacks there.

“What we want is peace,” the governor added.

🚨BREAKING: Watch the full clip here ➤