The resurgence of banditry in Katsina State has taken on a troubling dimension. The state government has revealed that a significant portion of the insecurity is fueled within the communities.
According to Nasiru Mu’azu Danmusa, the commissioner for internal security and home affairs, over 80 per cent of banditry-related incidents in the state can be traced to some form of local complicity.
This stark disclosure reframes the battle against insecurity as not merely a fight between government forces and armed criminals, but a more complex social crisis where community members are both victims and enablers.
Speaking at a press briefing, Danmusa emphasised that individuals who knowingly assist bandits sabotage the government’s security efforts.
He pointed out that in many cases, community members supply essential items such as fuel and food to criminal gangs at exorbitant prices. Fuel, he noted, can be sold for as high as ₦5,000 per litre in bandit enclaves, while a bottle of soft drink goes for ₦3,000.
These transactions, driven by personal profit, directly empower the criminals to sustain their activities.
Even more disturbing, he shared stories of residents who conspired in heinous acts, such as a man who helped arrange the abduction of his own diabetic father, receiving ₦8 million out of a ₦30 million ransom after ensuring the criminals stocked up on insulin.
Beyond economic support, the problem of informants has become a major concern.
According to the commissioner, some individuals embedded within sensitive institutions, including the Katsina airport, have been leaking intelligence about military airstrikes to bandits, effectively neutralising many security operations before they begin.
He argued that these internal betrayals significantly undermine the kinetic (military) efforts of the government and security forces.
Despite these setbacks, Danmusa affirmed the administration’s commitment to restoring peace.
He explained that alongside military interventions, the state government is investing in non-kinetic strategies, such as fostering community dialogue, holding town hall meetings, and encouraging citizens to share credible information with authorities.
He stressed that any information shared would be treated with utmost confidentiality and urged citizens to see security as a collective responsibility. Without the active involvement of communities, he said, government efforts would remain limited and ineffective.
While calling out the destructive roles played by a few, the government has also continued to show compassion to those directly affected by banditry.
In a recent outreach led by the special adviser on security and community watch, Yusuf Ibrahim Safana, the state government provided ₦2.8 million in direct relief to Kankia and Musawa local government areas victims.
The aid targeted families of those killed, survivors of abductions, injured individuals receiving treatment, and traders who lost their businesses. Government officials who accompanied the relief team reiterated that the assistance was not compensation but a humane effort to alleviate suffering and restore hope.
The response from the affected communities was largely positive, with many expressing gratitude for the government’s gesture and presence. For them, it was a sign that they had not been forgotten, and that the state was still invested in their recovery.
The chairman of Kankia local government commended the administration’s consistency in reaching out, describing the visit as timely and morale-boosting.
At its core, the security crisis in Katsina reveals a society grappling with both external threats and internal fractures.
The dual reality where some citizens aid bandits while others suffer at their hands presents a complex challenge for the government. Solving it will require more than guns and patrols; it will demand a cultural shift, renewed trust, and a collective determination to reclaim the state from fear and betrayal.
In this context, peace depends not just on the might of the state but also on the conscience and cooperation of its people.
