Former Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, has emphasized that the rise of banditry in Katsina State predates the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, tracing documented cases of the crime as far back as 1891.
Speaking on the historical roots of insecurity in the state, Mohammed recalled a town hall meeting in Katsina during the tenure of former Governor Aminu Masari.
He said the discussion highlighted that banditry is not a recent phenomenon.
“At a town hall meeting in Katsina, the then governor, Aminu Masari, noted that the first recorded instance of banditry in the state was in 1891. So anyone who thinks it started during the Buhari administration is mistaken,” he said.
Mohammed also argued that banditry should not be narrowly defined as kidnapping, pointing out that the issue is deeply tied to competition over scarce resources.
“People must understand that banditry goes beyond kidnapping. At its core, it is about struggles over resources,” he added.
