KATSINA — The Katsina State Government has scrambled to clarify that Nura Aliyu-Garwa, a former Senior Special Assistant on Community Development to Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, was already under suspension before his shocking arrest for allegedly masterminding the abduction of an eight-year-old child.
The official clarification, issued on Monday by the State Commissioner for Information and Culture, Dr. Bala Salisu-Zango, comes amid mounting public outrage over how a high-profile political figure gained entry into the corridors of power.
Records reveal that Aliyu-Garwa’s tenure was already marred by controversy; he was initially suspended following serious allegations involving the diversion of community empowerment materials in the Batsari Local Government Area. Rather than facing immediate accountability, Aliyu-Garwa used the gap to resign his appointment to contest a seat in the Katsina State House of Assembly.
Breach of Trust: The Abduction and Police Investigation.
The state police command has directly linked Aliyu-Garwa to a sophisticated criminal syndicate operating right within the state capital. He stands accused as the chief mastermind behind the brazen kidnapping of a minor at Sardauna Estate in the Katsina metropolis.
The Katsina State Police Command confirmed that a tactical operation by the newly established Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) led to the arrest of six other syndicate members. During the raid, police recovered ₦7.5 million in cash—part of a staggering ₦17 million ransom already extracted from the victim’s family—alongside a Peugeot 307 vehicle and an operational motorcycle.
Government Damage Control
Governor Radda expressed deep concern over the development, calling it highly unfortunate that an individual with such a prominent public profile and political ambitions could be deeply entangled in violent, predatory crimes. While the governor commended police operatives for their swift tracking and arrest of the suspects, the incident has raised urgent questions regarding vetting processes for political appointees.
In a defensive response, the Ministry of Information reiterated the administration’s zero-tolerance policy toward corruption and insecurity, leaning heavily on the fact that the suspect had already been stripped of his official capacity before the kidnapping plot came to light.
The police command stated that all arrested suspects have confessed to the crime and will be formally arraigned in court as soon as investigations are concluded.
