Katsina security analyst Bashir Kurfi detained as elders demand his release

Security analyst and public‑affairs commentator Dr. Bashir Usman Kurfi was arrested by the Katsina State Police after he alleged that the state government was sponsoring bandits for a pilgrimage. The police said the arrest followed a formal petition from the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Nasir Mu’azu, and that the case had been transferred to court.

A group of senior elders in Katsina State issued a statement calling for his unconditional release, arguing that his detention sends the wrong signal to citizens and organisations that assist security forces in combating banditry. The elders urged the state government to focus on arresting and prosecuting bandits rather than targeting individuals who provide expertise and information to aid peace efforts.