Man, 50, Arrested For Providing Food And Fuel To Bandits In Katsina

A 50-year-old man, Bashar Abubakar, has been arrested for allegedly supplying food and fuel to suspected bandits in Katsina State.

Abubakar, a native of Gwarzo town in Gwarzo Local Government Area of Kano State, was apprehended by members of the local vigilante group in the area.

In a video shared by security analyst and counterinsurgency expert Zagazola Makama, the suspect confessed to having supplied petrol to the criminal group at least once.

“I gave them petrol once; it was up to one gallon,” he said.

When questioned about a woman who was reportedly involved in delivering the fuel, Abubakar claimed he did not know her identity.

“The woman is one of them. They sent her to collect the items from me. I don’t know her name, wallahi,” he stated.

Abubakar also admitted to purchasing and supplying various food items to the group.

“I bought soft drinks, pure water, bread, rice, and other stuff for them,” he said.

According to Abubakar, he did not personally deliver the items, as the bandits typically came into town to collect them.

“They normally come to pick up the stuff. Sometimes, they come to Alhaji Bello’s place to collect them,” he stated.

When asked whether he believed his actions were justified, Abubakar did not provide a direct response but acknowledged the group’s activities, including the imposition of levies.

“That boy that they asked to pay the ransom; it was the Fulani that fixed the levy,” he said, although he claimed to have forgotten the exact amount collected.

He further explained that the boy in question had been accused of stealing diesel from trucks and was judged by the group.

“He was caught stealing diesel from big trucks. Judgment was passed on him,” Abubakar said.

However, he distanced himself from the decision, saying, “Wallahi, they are the ones that changed the judgement.”

When asked if he received any benefit from his cooperation with the group, he replied, “They didn’t give me anything.”

Abubakar confirmed that everything he had said during the interview was true. “They are all true,” he concluded.