LAGOS JUNE 25TH (NEWSRANGERS)-Dr. Bashir Kurfi, Convener of the Katsina Community Security Initiative, has alleged that the Katsina State Government sponsored some notorious bandit leaders to perform the Muslim pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, paying as much as N10 million for each individual.
Kurfi made the allegation during a recent interview on Trust TV’s live podcast monitored by SaharaReporters on Wednesday while discussing insecurity, government engagement with armed groups and efforts to tackle banditry in Nigeria’s North-West region.
He alleged that several bandit leaders have maintained direct contact with government officials, stating that some of them have even participated in meetings and negotiations with authorities despite being linked to violent attacks across the region.
Speaking during the interview, Kurfi cited the example of a bandit leader identified as Audu Lankai, whom he described as one of the most prominent criminal figures operating in Katsina and neighbouring areas.
“Audu Lankai is one of the biggest bandits. The government meets with him. The government sits with him. Government allows committees to go and sit and do these kinds of things with them,” Kurfi said.
He further claimed that authorities are aware of the identities, family backgrounds and locations of several bandit leaders.
“They are not in the bush or in the rocks. They are staying in places people know. Everybody knows them. Their parents are alive. People know where they come from,” he said.
Katsina government paid 10million naira for bandit leaders to perform Hajj in Saudi Arabia – Dr Kurfi alleges
Kurfi also cited another bandit leader identified as Mohammed, alleging that he continued to hold discussions with government officials even after being linked to high-profile criminal activities.
He claimed that some government representatives reportedly regarded Mohammed as a figure they could engage with, believing he had the influence to shape the actions of other armed groups.
However, the most controversial claim during the interview was his allegation that some notorious bandit leaders were sponsored by the Katsina State Government to perform Hajj in Saudi Arabia.
“In Katsina, it is alleged that the government paid about N10 million for each bandit to go to Saudi Arabia for Hajj,” Kurfi said.
When the interviewer pointed out that he was making a serious allegation and asked whether he had evidence to support it, Kurfi acknowledged that it was an allegation but maintained that several bandit leaders had been seen in Saudi Arabia during the pilgrimage.
“Let them say that some of these big bandits like Manuri and this guy around the Ranka area were not in Saudi Arabia. Many of them were there. I don’t know whether they are back,” he said.
Asked whether the alleged sponsorship was part of efforts to encourage the bandits to embrace peace and abandon violence, Kurfi dismissed the suggestion.
“No, maybe to ridicule the religion,” he said.
“How can you be a murderer if you don’t have any faith? Then they take you to Mecca and call you an Alhaji. They allow you to fly from a Nigerian airport and come back through a Nigerian airport. These are people who not only kill civilians, but they also kill military personnel.”
Kurfi also used the interview to advocate for community-based security structures, arguing that local vigilante groups and security volunteers should be drawn from the communities they serve because residents are better positioned to identify suspicious individuals and criminal elements.
His allegations come amid continuing concerns over the use of negotiations, amnesty arrangements and non-kinetic approaches by some northern states in addressing banditry and kidnapping.
Reacting, the Katsina State Government, has dismissed as false, allegations that it sponsored Hajj pilgrimage for bandit leaders or other criminal elements terrorising the state.
In a statement by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr. Nasir Muazu, the government described the claims as baseless and politically motivated.
The statement said the allegation was a deliberate attempt to mislead the public and undermine efforts being made by the government and security agencies to tackle insecurity in the state.
It quoted the government as challenging Kurfi and other people behind the allegations to provide credible evidence to support their claims or face the wrath of the law.
The statement read: “The Katsina State Government wishes to categorically refute and strongly condemn the false and misleading statement made by one Bashir Kurfi during a programme aired on Trust TV, in which he alleged that the state government sponsored Hajj pilgrimage for bandit leaders or any individuals involved in banditry and other criminal activities.
“Accordingly, the government challenges the purveyors of these allegations to substantiate their claims with credible and verifiable evidence.
“Failure to do so will leave the government with no option but to explore all lawful means available to protect its reputation and hold those responsible accountable for spreading false and defamatory information.”
The statement further said it was regrettable that such allegations were being circulated at a time when security agencies, with the support of the state government, had recorded notable successes against banditry and related crimes.
Saharareporters/TthisDday
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