Katsina State Denies Sponsoring Bandit Leaders for Hajj

The Katsina State Government has firmly denied allegations that it sponsored Hajj pilgrimages for bandit leaders, dismissing the claims as baseless and politically motivated. The denial was issued in response to comments made by security analyst Bashir Kurfi, who alleged during a televised interview that the state government spent approximately 10 million naira each to send notorious bandit leaders to Saudi Arabia for the Islamic pilgrimage.

In a statement released on Wednesday, June 24, and reiterated on Thursday, June 25, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Nasir Muazu, rejected the allegations in their entirety. The government described the claims as false, misleading, and devoid of any factual basis, asserting they constitute a deliberate attempt to undermine ongoing security efforts. Officials stated unequivocally that the state has never sponsored any bandit leader or individual involved in criminal activities for Hajj. The government challenged Kurfi and other accusers to provide credible and verifiable evidence to support the allegations, warning that failure to do so could lead to legal action to protect the state's reputation.