Allegations that Katsina State sponsored bandit leaders for Hajj have been firmly rejected by the state government, which says the claim is baseless and misleading.
The allegation was made by security analyst and Convener of the Katsina Security Community Initiative, Bashir Kurfi, during a televised interview, where he claimed that some bandit leaders benefitted from government patronage, including sponsorship for pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.
In a statement issued by the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, the state government dismissed the claim and challenged the analyst to provide credible evidence.
“The government states unequivocally that this allegation is entirely baseless, unfounded, and devoid of any factual basis”, the statement signed by Commissioner Nasir Mu’azu said.
The government maintained that no bandit leader or individual involved in criminal activities had been sponsored for Hajj, stressing that the allegation was aimed at undermining ongoing efforts to tackle insecurity in the state.
It also argued that the claim surfaced at a time when security agencies, with government support, were recording significant successes against banditry.
The state government warned that it may pursue legal action if the allegations are not substantiated, while urging the public to disregard what it described as misinformation.
