Kastina accuses citizens of aiding bandits: “One man sold Coca-Cola for N3,000; another sold fuel for N5,000 per litre to bandits”

Kastina state government has accused some citizens of the state of aiding bandits.

The state government said banditry is being fuelled by informants and community members who supply food and other items to criminals in the forests.

Nasir Mu’azu, Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs in the state, made this disclosure when he briefed journalists on the security situation ravaging the state.

The Commissioner said some members of the affected communities served as informants to the criminals or provided them with their needs at exorbitant prices.

He said the connivance between the bandits and community members was making it difficult for the government and security operatives to address the challenges in the affected areas.

He stated: “In one of the communities affected by the insecurity, a man was found to be selling a bottle of Coca-Cola for N3,000; another sold fuel for N5,000 per litre to bandits.”

Mu’azu said some community members often connive with bandits to abduct their targeted victims, including their family members.

Said Mu’azu: “In another case, we found a man who connived with bandits to abduct his biological father, who had diabetes.

“When the bandits brought him to their hideout, they had already reserved diabetic tablets for his daily consumption.

“The sum of N30 million was paid as ransom for the man, and N8 million was given to the man for compromising and allowing his father to be abducted”.

He also said informants were known for alerting bandits whenever Nigeria Air Force (NAF) jets left the airport to bomb their hidesout.

The Commissioner said tackling insecurity in the state could only be achieved with cooperation from affected communities.

He said the state government had made headway in several councils in tackling insecurity using kinetic measures but noted that non-kinetic approaches were equally important to ensure a lasting solution.

Mu’azu called on the public to come forward and provide sensitive information that would lead to viable solutions in addressing insecurity.