A political storm has erupted in Katsina State following a shocking allegation by a party chieftain that a local government council earmarked ₦300 million in its budget for “negotiations” or payments to bandits. The claim, which surfaced on Monday, January 12th, suggests that the funds were masked under vague administrative subheadings but were intended to serve as “protection money” to prevent attacks on communities within the council’s jurisdiction.
The chieftain, whose identity has sparked intense debate within the state’s political circles, challenged the state government and anti-graft agencies to conduct a forensic audit of the council’s financial records. While some local officials have dismissed the claim as “politically motivated blackmail,” the allegation has triggered outrage among residents who have long suffered from the scourge of banditry. Security analysts warn that if proven true, such payments would undermine the federal government’s “no-ransom” policy and provide a financial lifeline to criminal networks, further complicating the war against insecurity in the Northwest.
