ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-. The Katsina State Government has confirmed that a former Senior Special Assistant on Community Development, Nura Garwa, who is under investigation for alleged involvement in a kidnapping syndicate, had earlier been suspended from office before seeking election into the Katsina State House of Assembly.
Garwa was among suspects recently paraded by the Katsina State Police Command over the alleged abduction of an eight-year-old boy at Sardauna Estate in Katsina metropolis.
The state Commissioner for Information and Culture, Salisu Zango, disclosed this in a statement, saying the former aide had earlier fallen out with the government over alleged diversion of empowerment materials meant for communities in Batsari Local Government Area.
According to the statement, the suspect had been suspended before declaring interest in contesting for a seat in the Katsina State House of Assembly.
“The suspected mastermind of a kidnapping syndicate, Nura Aliyu Garwa, involving the abduction of an eight-year-old boy at Sardauna Estate in Katsina metropolis, had earlier been suspended as SSA on Community Development to Governor Dikko Umaru Radda before his intention to contest for the seat of member representing Batsari Local Government Area in the state assembly,” the statement read.
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The government explained that Garwa was removed from office over his alleged role in diverting empowerment materials meant for distribution to communities under the state’s Community Development Programme.
Governor Dikko Radda described the alleged activities of the gang as disturbing, especially because the suspect once occupied a government position and later contested for elective office.
The governor also commended the Katsina State Police Command and other security agencies for their efforts in tackling insecurity across the state.
Radda urged residents to continue supporting security agencies with credible information and report suspicious movements within their communities.
The statement added that the police had already paraded suspects linked to the kidnapping syndicate responsible for the abduction of the young boy in Katsina metropolis, with Garwa identified as the prime suspect.
The development followed the recent announcement by the Nigeria Police Force in Katsina regarding the arrest of members of the alleged syndicate accused of masterminding the child’s abduction.