The Katsina State Government has confirmed that Nura Garwa, a former Senior Special Assistant on Community Development who is currently being investigated for alleged involvement in a kidnapping syndicate, was previously suspended from office before running for a seat in the Katsina State House of Assembly.
Garwa is one of the suspects recently paraded by the Katsina State Police Command in connection with the alleged kidnapping of an eight-year-old boy at Sardauna Estate in Katsina.
Salisu Zango, the Commissioner of Information and Culture, issued a statement on Sunday.
He claimed Garwa had previously been suspended by the government for allegedly diverting empowerment items intended for communities in the Batsari Local Government Area through the state’s Community Development Program.
According to the statement, “Suspected mastermind of bandit syndicate suspended as Gov. Aide earlier before contesting.
“The suspected mastermind of a kidnapping syndicate, Nura Aliyu Garwa, involving the kidnapping of an 8-year-old boy at Sardauna Estate in Katsina Metropolis, has been suspended as SSA on Community Development to Katsina State Governor, His Excellency Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, PhD, CON, earlier before his intention to contest for the seat of member, Katsina State House of Assembly in Batsari Local Government Area of the state.
“Nura Aliyu Garwa was suspended by the state government for his involvement in the diversion of empowerment materials meant for distribution to communities in Batsari Local Government under the state government Community Development Program.
“Governor Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, of Katsina State, described the activities of the gang as unfortunate, particularly as it involves a high-profile individual who even contested for the position of a member of the state House of Assembly.
“Radda commended the state police command and other security agencies in the state for their commitment to secure the state.
“He then called on the public to support the government effort by providing information and reporting suspicious activities to security agencies.
“It should be recalled that the Katsina State Police command has paraded suspects linked to a kidnapping syndicate involving the abduction of an 8-year-old boy in the Katsina metropolis.”
The development followed the Nigeria Police Force’s recent parade of suspected kidnappers in Katsina, in which authorities announced the arrest of members of a syndicate allegedly responsible for the kidnapping of the little child, including Nura, the key suspect.
