Police detain Kurfi over allegation against Katsina govt

The Katsina State Police Command has detained Dr Usman Kurfi, a security analyst and public affairs commentator, following a petition by the Katsina State Government over comments he made during a recent interview on Trust TV. Dr Kurfi was invited by the police on Tuesday to respond to allegations contained in a petition submitted to […]

The Katsina State Police Command has detained Dr Usman Kurfi, a security analyst and public affairs commentator, following a petition by the Katsina State Government over comments he made during a recent interview on Trust TV.
Dr Kurfi was invited by the police on Tuesday to respond to allegations contained in a petition submitted to the Commissioner of Police, Aliyu Umar Fage, by the Katsina State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Nasiru Mu’azu Danmusa.
The petition, dated June 30, 2026, challenges comments made by Dr Kurfi during the television interview in which he alleged that some bandit leaders were sponsored to perform the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.
Speaking from police custody, Dr Kurfi said he initially believed he had been invited in connection with a separate petition he had earlier submitted to the police over the security situation in Katsina State.
“When I received the invitation, I thought it was in respect of the petition I had earlier submitted to the Commissioner of Police on the security situation in Katsina State. But when I arrived, I was informed that the invitation was actually over the petition filed against me by the state government,” he said.
He said investigators questioned him over the allegations he made during the Trust TV interview and asked him to provide evidence to support his claims.
“They asked me to substantiate the statement I made during the interview regarding the alleged sponsorship of some bandit leaders for the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage,” he said.
Dr Kurfi further disclosed that he was taken before a court on Tuesday evening for arraignment, but the proceedings could not go ahead because the presiding judge was unavailable.
“I was returned to the State Criminal Investigation Department, where I am still being detained.
“I have been here since about 1:00 p.m., and I am in good health. I expect that once the court resumes on Wednesday, the matter will proceed,” he said.
Efforts to obtain official comments from the Katsina State Government and the Katsina State Police Command were unsuccessful, as calls and text messages seeking their reactions had yet to receive responses.
After several phone calls and text messages seeking clarification on Dr Kurfi’s arrest and detention, the spokesperson for the Katsina State Police Command, DSP Sadiq Aliyu, told Daily Trust he would respond later.
However, as of the time of filing this report, no further response had been received.