Katsina govt denies sponsoring bandit leaders for Hajj

The Katsina State Government has dismissed allegations that it sponsored Hajj pilgrimage for bandit leaders or individuals involved in criminal activities, describing the claim as false, misleading and lacking any factual basis.

The government was reacting to comments allegedly made by Dr Bashir Kurfi during a programme aired on Trust TV, in which he claimed that the state government sponsored Hajj for bandit leaders.

In a statement issued on Thursday by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Nasir Mua’zu, the government said the allegation was entirely baseless and constituted a deliberate attempt to mislead the public and undermine efforts being made to tackle insecurity in the state.

According to the statement, the government has never sponsored any bandit leader or criminal element for the Islamic pilgrimage and remains committed to supporting security agencies in the fight against banditry and related crimes.

“The allegation is entirely baseless, unfounded and devoid of any factual basis. It is a deliberate falsehood aimed at misleading the public and undermining the ongoing efforts of the government and security agencies in addressing security challenges across the state,” the statement said.

The government expressed concern that such claims were being circulated at a time when security agencies, with support from the state government, were recording successes against banditry and other criminal activities.

It alleged that the accusation was aimed at distracting public attention from the progress achieved in the state’s security operations and creating distrust among residents.

The statement further accused some individuals and groups of politicising security issues for personal and political interests, alleging that they were unhappy with the government’s refusal to support what it described as questionable schemes designed to divert public resources from developmental projects.

The government challenged those behind the allegation to provide credible and verifiable evidence to support their claims.

It warned that failure to substantiate the allegation could compel the state government to explore legal options to protect its reputation and hold those responsible accountable for what it described as false and defamatory statements.

The government urged residents and Nigerians to disregard the allegation and continue supporting security agencies and other stakeholders working to restore peace and stability across the state.

It reaffirmed its commitment to supporting ongoing security operations and implementing measures aimed at guaranteeing the safety and wellbeing of residents.

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