According to the governor, these internal collaborators pass security plans and operational details to bandits, making it easier for them to avoid arrest and launch attacks.

Governor Radda made the revelation during an interview with Channels Television, where he explained that the activities of these moles have significantly complicated the fight against insecurity in the state.

He cited the case of a notorious bandit known simply as Mohammed, claiming that the criminal benefits from intelligence provided by insiders within both official and community structures.

“This notorious person that is disturbing us — we know him. He is Mohammed; that is his name. Everybody knows him. His father, his mother, and his grandfather were born there. But the problem we have is the community. The communities are not giving the right information. I can say that, in a way, some of them are helping him,” Radda said.

He further disclosed that information from even high-level security meetings sometimes reaches the suspect almost immediately.

“It is not a hidden thing because he gets information. The day I called for a high-level security meeting here at the state government on how to operate and deal with the situation, five minutes after the meeting, he already knew what we had discussed.”

The governor said the bandit leader has also adopted tactics aimed at frustrating government action by allegedly inciting villages to protest against authorities to prevent security crackdowns.

He added that whenever security personnel mobilise in response to intelligence about attacks, informants within affected communities allegedly alert the criminals about troop movements and operational routes, enabling them to stage ambushes.

“So, this is the kind of situation we are in. There are moles among us, moles among the security agencies, and moles among the communities,” he said.

Governor Speaks On Negotiating With Bandits

Radda also disclosed that although he initially opposed negotiations with bandits, some communities in Katsina requested permission to engage in dialogue with them due to prolonged suffering and inadequate protection.

According to him, he allowed the communities to pursue peace talks independently after they insisted it could restore calm.

“I was the one who initially took the position against negotiating with bandits. But when the situation became unbearable, the communities approached me and said, ‘Your Excellency, we have met with these people, they are ready to lay down their arms… Please allow us to negotiate with them if it can bring peace.’”

He said some local government areas that embraced such peace arrangements have reportedly gone over a year without attacks.

“As I speak with you today, there are some local governments that entered into peace negotiations with bandits, and for over a year, there have been no attacks in those places.”

The governor stressed that while he personally would not initiate negotiations from a position of weakness, he remains open to dialogue if bandits genuinely seek peace under terms that favour the government’s authority.

He maintained that his ultimate priority remains restoring peace and security for the people of Katsina State.