The Katsina State governor, Dikko Radda, has stated that Northern youths are being recruited into banditry with just N500 and accused the security personnel and government officials of aiding and abetting banditry in the region.
“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.”
Speaking bitterly on Friday’s edition of Channels Television’s Politics Today, he said bandits have abducted and killed many persons in the rural areas and stated vehemently that poverty and injustice are the driving force of banditry in the country.
”The issue of the hypothesis behind political motive as responsible for banditry is not true.”
Throwing more light on the media parley in the United States by some Northern Governors, he said they were invited to find a lasting solution to the insecurity bedevilling the region.
“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,” he said.
“Ten governors were in the United States, Washington D.C and we had a symposium with the United States Institute of Peace so that we can bring about ideas that will end insecurity that is worrying our people and is a major problem to the subnationals and they carefully chose the governors of the places affected by banditry and kidnapping.
“All of us sat for three days and we were able to cross-fertilise ideas and interact with all stakeholders that are involved in bringing about lasting peace and security globally,” the Katsina governor said.
Source: Channels
