A prominent figure in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Katsina State has made a shocking allegation, revealing that one of the state's Local Government Areas has set aside a staggering N300 million in its 2026 budget specifically for payments to suspected bandits.
Revelations of Systematic Payments to Bandits
Dr. Mustapha Inuwa, who served as Secretary to the State Government under former Governor Aminu Bello Masari, disclosed this information in a recent interview. He stated that this massive allocation is not an isolated case. According to him, several councils plagued by insecurity routinely pay millions of naira to armed groups every month.
Inuwa expressed deep concern that these substantial public funds are being diverted to a small criminal element, directly undermining development in the affected areas. He lamented this practice, noting it continues despite community-initiated peace agreements in 18 local government areas.
Peace Deal Under Scrutiny Amid Ongoing Violence
The ADC chieftain cast serious doubt on the effectiveness and long-term viability of the current peace arrangements with bandits. He pointed to recent violent incidents in Kankara, Malumfashi, and Jibia councils as evidence of their failure. These attacks resulted in at least two deaths, multiple injuries, and the abduction of over a dozen people.
Inuwa highlighted a glaring contradiction in the state government's stance. He questioned why the administration, which has repeatedly vowed not to negotiate with bandits, is now facilitating the release of dozens of convicted and suspected criminals. "Some of these bandits are people whom communities are afraid of their return to society," he warned, noting there is no guarantee they won't return to crime as seen in past failed amnesty programs.
A Dangerous Familiarity and the Call for a Unified Strategy
Drawing from his experience overseeing two unsuccessful amnesty programs, Inuwa outlined a new and dangerous consequence of the current peace deal. He argued that it has allowed bandits unprecedented access to and knowledge of the communities they once attacked. "Before now, bandits didn't know the communities... they used to depend on informants," he said. "But now, the so-called peace deal has allowed them to know every nook and cranny."
This familiarity, he cautioned, would make any future betrayal of the peace agreement catastrophically effective, as the armed men would no longer need local guides to operate.
Inuwa concluded that a lasting solution to banditry in Katsina and neighboring states requires a synchronized, regional approach. He stressed that all affected states must adopt a uniform tactic, rather than a patchwork of kinetic (military) and non-kinetic (negotiation) measures that allow criminals to exploit jurisdictional gaps.
