Katsina State has rubbished allegations that it footed the bill for Hajj trips by bandit leaders or other criminals operating in the state.

Internal Security and Home Affairs Commissioner Nasir Muazu branded the claims baseless and politically driven. They originated with security analyst Bashir Kurfi, who told a private television station that Governor Dikko Umaru Radda’s government had paid N10 million to sponsor Hajj for bandits.

Muazu countered that the assertion had no factual grounding whatsoever and amounted to a calculated effort to mislead the public and discredit the fight against insecurity. The government dared Kurfi and others spreading the claim to produce verifiable evidence or risk legal action, adding that it was unfortunate the allegation surfaced just as security forces were posting notable gains against banditry