Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umar Radda, has said that efforts to end banditry will remain futile unless informants and collaborators within communities are identified and dealt with.
Speaking at a special prayer session marking his second anniversary in office, Governor Radda disclosed that over 70 percent of bandits’ informants and collaborators reside within towns and villages across the state. These individuals, he said, supply the criminals with food, hard drugs, fuel, and even assist in selling stolen livestock.
“The real problem lies with those among us who aid these criminals. Without them, banditry cannot thrive,” Radda stated during the event held in Katsina, the state capital.
The governor emphasized that security is a shared responsibility and called on all citizens—particularly religious and political leaders—to play active roles in combating insecurity. He also urged for continued prayers for peace and stability in Katsina and across Nigeria.
“Leadership is a trust. I remain committed to serving with integrity and will not betray the confidence the people have placed in me,” he said.
Governor Radda also lamented poor parenting as a root cause of youth involvement in criminal activities, urging parents to instill moral values in their children to curb rising insecurity.
Earlier, the Chief of Staff and Chairman of the Prayer Session Committee, Malam Abdulkadir Mamman Nasir, commended Governor Radda for fulfilling 75 percent of his campaign promises. He said the prayer session was organized by Muslim clerics to seek divine support for the governor’s continued success.
The event featured Qur’anic recitations and special prayers led by selected Islamic scholars from across the state.