Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State has raised fresh concerns over worsening insecurity in parts of the state, accusing some residents and alleged informants within security circles of secretly helping bandits and leaking sensitive information about security operations.
The governor said criminal groups operating in the state often receive details of government and security plans almost immediately after meetings are held, making it difficult for security agencies to defeat them.
Radda spoke during an interview on Channels Television, where he expressed frustration over what he described as deep-rooted collaboration between bandits and some people living in affected communities.
According to him, the activities of informants have continued to frustrate efforts by the government and security agencies to tackle banditry in Katsina State and other parts of the North-West.
“The problem we have now is the communities. The communities are not giving the right information. I can say in a way, some of them are helping them,” the governor said.
He disclosed that a notorious bandit leader identified as Muhammad had remained difficult to capture because he constantly receives information from collaborators within the communities and even among security personnel.
“And this notorious person that is disturbing Musawa and Matazu, we know him. He’s Muhammad. That is his name. Everybody knows him. His father, his mother, and his grandfather were born there,” Radda said.
The governor said the bandit leader was well known in the area and had built strong local connections that allowed him to monitor security movements and evade arrest.
Radda gave a shocking account of how sensitive information discussed during a high-level security meeting allegedly reached the bandits within minutes.
“There was a day I called for a meeting here, a high-level security meeting in the Government House on how to operate and deal with the situation. Five minutes after the meeting, he knew what we discussed,” the governor revealed.
“There are moles among us, moles among the security, moles among the communities. That makes it more challenging.”
According to him, the problem has made security operations more dangerous because bandits often receive advance warning before troops arrive in troubled areas.
“Once the security move to the area, his moles among the people in the communities will call him and tell him that the security are coming. They have followed this road. So they will lay ambush for the security,” he said.
The governor’s comments have again drawn attention to the growing security crisis in Nigeria’s North-West region, where states such as Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto and Kaduna have struggled with armed bandit attacks for several years.
Bandits in the region have carried out mass killings, kidnappings, cattle rustling and attacks on villages, highways and schools. Thousands of residents have been displaced, while many communities continue to live in fear.
In Katsina State, several local government areas have repeatedly come under attack despite military operations and increased security deployments.
Musawa and Matazu local government areas, mentioned by the governor, have witnessed a number of violent attacks in recent years, with residents often complaining about poor security presence and delayed response during emergencies.
Residents in some affected communities have also accused bandits of threatening villagers who cooperate with security agencies.
Radda further alleged that bandits were now using new tactics to weaken government efforts by encouraging protests against authorities in affected communities.
“He has even brought out a new strategy that you go inside the village to demonstrate against the government so that they will put pressure on the government to allow him not to be pursued,” the governor said.
According to him, some of the protests seen in troubled areas may have been influenced by criminal groups seeking to stop military operations against them.
The governor, however, maintained that security conditions in Katsina had improved since he assumed office.
He said when his administration came in, about 24 local government areas were facing serious security threats, but the situation had reduced considerably.
“When I took over this state, there were about 24 local governments under siege. But now, most of the challenges we are witnessing today are within two local governments,” he said.
Radda credited ongoing military operations and cooperation with security agencies for the improvement recorded so far.
Since taking office, the governor has repeatedly promised to strengthen local security structures and support federal security agencies with logistics and intelligence.
Katsina State, the home state of former President Muhammadu Buhari, has remained one of the states worst affected by armed banditry in recent years.
Several villages across the state have suffered attacks leading to deaths, kidnappings and destruction of property. Farmers in some areas have abandoned their farmlands because of fear of attacks, worsening food and economic challenges in rural communities.
The insecurity has also affected trade and transportation, with many residents afraid to travel on certain roads without security escort.
To tackle the crisis, the federal government has deployed troops, fighter jets and special military operations across parts of the North-West. However, attacks continue in remote communities where security presence is limited.
Radda said the state government was now exploring the use of drone technology to strengthen surveillance and improve security operations.
According to him, the deployment of drones would help authorities monitor difficult terrains and track criminal movements more effectively.
Meanwhile, residents in affected areas continue to call on both the federal and state governments to take stronger action against bandits and their collaborators.
Community leaders have also urged authorities to identify and prosecute informants accused of leaking security information to criminal groups.
Many residents say until the network of informants is dismantled, efforts to restore lasting peace in Katsina and other troubled states may remain difficult.