Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State has restated that his administration will not negotiate with bandits terrorising parts of the state, even as he expressed openness to genuine community-led peace efforts.
Radda made the declaration on Tuesday while inaugurating 100 additional members of the Community Watch Corps (C-Watch) in Katsina.
He recalled that when the C-Watch initiative was launched about two years ago, the government faced a steep learning curve and significant uncertainty.
“We were a new administration with the arduous task of bringing peace and security to many parts of the state,” Radda said. “The only thing I was certain about was my administration’s determination to end banditry. I campaigned on it, and the trust of the people will not be betrayed.”
The governor dismissed reports that his government was negotiating with bandits, insisting that such claims were false.
“Some reports claim that the Katsina State Government is negotiating with bandits, but that is far from the truth,” he stated. “I have publicly maintained that the government will not negotiate with bandits but will always welcome peace.”
Radda explained that what he termed the “Katsina Model” is a community-driven peace initiative that allows affected communities to engage repentant bandits willing to surrender their arms.
“The role of the State Government is to encourage and support the peace process while maintaining law and order. Our focus is to ensure that communities enjoying peace also benefit socio-economically, giving our people a dignified life,” he said.
Highlighting the progress made through the initiative, Radda revealed that Jibia had recorded eight months without a major attack, while Batsari had enjoyed seven months of uninterrupted peace.
“Other local government areas such as Danmusa, Safana, Faskari, and Sabuwa have also witnessed relative calm since adopting this initiative,” he added.
He, however, stressed that kinetic operations by federal security agencies remain critical to the overall security framework of the state.
“This ceremony is proof that the state government will not relent in combating insecurity and banditry wherever they exist,” Radda said. “Those who choose to return to crime will face the full weight of the law.”
Earlier, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr. Nasir Mu’azu, commended the governor’s leadership in reducing insecurity through innovative local strategies.
“No doubt, he saw, he analysed, and he conquered — using a community-based approach where young, able-bodied men from their localities were selected, screened, trained, and deployed as the first line of defence,” Mu’azu stated.
He explained that the inauguration marked the third phase of the C-Watch training, following the first in October 2023 and the second in November 2024. The newly trained officers, he added, will be deployed to Kankia and Dutsin-Ma Local Government Areas, with 50 personnel assigned to each.
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