A 50-year-old man named Bashar Abubakar has been arrested for allegedly aiding suspected bandits operating in Katsina State by supplying them with food and fuel.
The arrest was made by members of the local vigilante group in his community, shedding light on the persistent challenges of local collaboration with criminal elements in Nigeria’s northwestern region.
Bashar Abubakar, a native of Gwarzo town in Gwarzo Local Government Area of Kano State, was apprehended following suspicions of his involvement in logistical support for bandits.
His arrest was facilitated by community-based vigilante operatives, highlighting ongoing efforts by civilians and local security outfits to curtail banditry and insurgent activities plaguing the region.
In a video clip shared by Zagazola Makama, a noted security analyst and counterinsurgency expert, Abubakar openly confessed to having supplied the criminal group with petrol. According to him, this occurred at least once: He said, “I gave them petrol once; it was up to one gallon,” he admitted.
When questioned further about a woman reportedly used as an intermediary to deliver fuel, Abubakar denied any personal knowledge of her identity.
He stated, “The woman is one of them. They sent her to collect the items from me. I don’t know her name, wallahi.”
Beyond fuel, Abubakar acknowledged that he provided a range of food items to the bandits. These items included basic necessities such as bread, rice, pure water, and soft drinks. However, he clarified that he was not directly involved in transporting these supplies to the group. Instead, he claimed the bandits regularly sent individuals to collect the items from within the town.
“I bought soft drinks, pure water, bread, rice, and other stuff for them,” he said.
“They normally come to pick up the stuff. Sometimes, they come to Alhaji Bello’s place to collect them.”
This pattern of collection indicates a system of urban-rural collaboration, with supplies potentially being stockpiled in town and retrieved by operatives associated with the criminal group.
When pressed on whether he believed his actions were justified, Abubakar avoided a direct answer. However, he showed some awareness of the group’s operations and their method of imposing levies on locals. He referred to a specific incident involving a boy accused of stealing diesel:
“That boy that they asked to pay the ransom; it was the Fulani that fixed the levy.”
“He was caught stealing diesel from big trucks. Judgment was passed on him.”
Despite being aware of the incident, Abubakar distanced himself from the final judgment, implying that he had no influence over the decisions made by the bandit group.
“Wallahi, they are the ones that changed the judgement,” he added.
Abubakar also claimed that he did not receive any form of payment or reward for his support to the group.
“They didn’t give me anything,” he stated, implying that his involvement may have been out of coercion, fear, or social pressure rather than direct profit
His arrest underscores the deep-rooted and complex nature of banditry in northern Nigeria, where support networks—sometimes comprised of seemingly ordinary community members.
Authorities are expected to investigate further to uncover the extent of Abubakar’s involvement and to determine whether he acted alone or as part of a wider network aiding armed groups in the region.
