Katsina State Governor Dikko Umar Radda made shocking claims on Channels Television recently. He revealed that bandits have informants working inside his government.
The allegation is serious. It came directly from the governor, so it carries real weight.
Radda didn't make the accusation lightly or without reason. During a confidential security meeting about a particular bandit leader, that same criminal knew the details within five minutes of the meeting ending.
Many Nigerians initially dismissed his claims as excuses. Some thought he was deflecting blame for rising insecurity in the state.
Others saw it as an attempt to shift responsibility away from his administration.
But recent events have proven the governor was telling the truth. His former aide, Hon.
Nuru Aliyu Garwa, has been arrested on kidnapping charges.
Garwa worked as Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Community Development Programmes. He allegedly conspired with gang members to abduct his neighbour's son.
The victim was returning from Islamiyyah school when he was taken. His family paid over ten million naira to secure his release.
The neighbour had greeted this man politely for years without suspecting anything. He'd call him "Honourable" whenever they met around the neighbourhood.
Garwa presented himself as a politician and community development officer. In reality, sources say kidnapping for ransom was his primary occupation.
The governor's spokesman confirmed that Garwa had been suspended earlier. The suspension was for alleged mismanagement of community development funds.
A resignation letter attributed to Garwa has circulated on social media though. In it, he claimed he wanted to contest for the State House of Assembly.
This contradiction has raised eyebrows among observers. Some question whether the suspension actually happened before his arrest.
The governor's office could argue the resignation letter is artificial intelligence-generated. Anything is possible in modern times, after all.
Radda deserves recognition for speaking publicly about internal infiltration. He did this long before Garwa's arrest confirmed his warnings.
Imagine the embarrassment and disappointment when news of the arrest broke. The man worked directly under the governor himself.
It's a stark reminder that insecurity in Nigeria isn't just about external threats. Sometimes danger comes from within government structures.
Residents and observers now understand why Radda raised the alarm earlier. His credibility on this issue has been substantially restored.
