Katsina Governor, Dikko Radda, has voiced concerns over the role of certain government officials and security personnel in perpetuating insecurity in Nigeria, labeling it as a lucrative business venture.
Speaking on Channels TV’s Politics Today, Governor Radda highlighted the complicity of these actors as a significant obstacle to resolving the rampant issue of banditry and insecurity across the country.
He stated, “Now it has turned out to be a business venture. A business venture for the criminals, some people who are in government; and some people who are in security outfits, and some people who are responsible for the day-to-day activities of their people. These are so many reasons why we are unable to bring banditry to an end.”
The governor’s remarks come amidst escalating attacks by criminal groups, commonly referred to as bandits, on rural communities in Nigeria, with reports of thousands of incidents of kidnapping and abduction documented.
Despite assertions linking insecurity to political motivations, Governor Radda emphasized poverty and injustice as significant factors driving the crisis, dismissing the notion of political motives behind banditry.
He added, “The issue of the hypothesis behind political motive as responsible for banditry is not true.”Radda also shed light on the dire circumstances that lead many youths in the north to be lured into banditry for as little as N500.
In efforts to address insecurity in the region, northern governors recently embarked on a trip to the United States, drawing criticism for holding the meeting abroad. However, Governor Radda clarified that the meeting was convened by the United States Institute of Peace, providing the governors with valuable insights into the security challenges facing their states.
He explained, “The meeting was not at the instance of the selected governors of northern states but it was at the instance of the United States Institute of Peace.
“They were the people who invited us; they hosted us for the meeting. We were invited to sit with them so that we could bring about lasting solutions to the problems that are affecting our people.”
Radda emphasized the importance of such engagements in seeking sustainable solutions to insecurity plaguing the region.
