INVESTIGATIVE REPORT: Katsina Government Allegedly Funded Bandit Leaders’ Hajj Trips with ₦10 Million, Says Security Expert Dr. Kurfi

ABUJA, NIGERIA — In a startling revelation that has sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s security and political landscape, prominent activist and convener of the Katsina Security Community Initiative, Dr. Bashir Kurfi, has accused the Katsina State Government of funding the trips of notorious bandit leaders to Saudi Arabia for the Islamic Hajj pilgrimage.

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Speaking during an explosive, wide-ranging interview on TrustTV’s Daily Politics, Dr. Kurfi alleged that the state government spent approximately ₦10 million per individual to facilitate the trips for high-profile terrorists.

“To Ridicule the Religion”

Dr. Kurfi questioned the logic behind utilizing state funds to sponsor individuals responsible for mass killings and the displacement of thousands of innocent citizens.

“It is alleged in Katsina that the government paid about ₦10 million for bandits to go to Saudi Arabia for Hajj,” Dr. Kurfi stated during the broadcast [20:10]. “How can you be a murderer, you don’t have any faith, and then they take you to Makkah and call you Alhaji? They allow you to fly from a Nigerian airport and return through a Nigerian airport.” [20:55].

He specifically named individuals like “Manuri” and other dominant bandit commanders operating around Katsina, stating that authorities are fully aware of their identities and location [20:30]. Dr. Kurfi slammed the action, describing it as a move that effectively “ridicules the religion.” [20:55].

Phony Peace Deals and Political Interests

The former international finance lecturer at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, asserted that state actors and regional politicians have “no political will” to permanently eradicate banditry [14:26, 33:47]. Instead, he accused them of managing a highly lucrative “security economy” [45:30] and leveraging flawed “peace deals” to satisfy short-term political goals ahead of upcoming elections [42:03].

According to Dr. Kurfi, these state-backed negotiations have severely backfired, effectively granting terrorists free passage across territories. “Before, there is no bandit that can go and cross any town easily… but now when you make this peace deal, they say don’t touch them. Even if they go and steal in Kaduna, if they didn’t steal in Katsina, allow them passage,” he revealed [26:05].

State Police: A Recipe for Local Tyranny?

Weighing in on the National Assembly’s ongoing debate regarding the creation of state police, Dr. Kurfi expressed grave concerns. He pointed out that regional vigilante groups currently recruited by governors—such as the Askarawa or Watch groups—are already operating recklessly and committing severe human rights abuses due to a lack of professional oversight [22:22, 22:42].

“I am very, very concerned about the issue of state police because… you recruit people under the command of the governor,” Dr. Kurfi warned, warning that decentralized forces could easily become armed extensions of political regimes rather than protectors of the community [23:16].

Watch the Full Interview: For the complete breakdown of the “security economy,” the exploitation of mining sites in the Northwest forest reserves, and the full context behind these allegations, watch the full interview on YouTube: Govt is not interested to eradicate banditry in Katsina – Dr Kurfi | Daily Politics.

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