We won’t negotiate with bandits - Governor Radda insists
By Obasola Olatunde
Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State has emphatically reaffirmed that his administration will not engage in negotiations with bandits terrorizing parts of the state.
He insisted that while his government welcomes community-initiated peace efforts, it remains firm against granting legitimacy to criminal elements.
Governor Radda made this known on Wednesday during the inauguration of 100 additional members of the homegrown Community Watch Corps (C-Watch) in Katsina.
He reiterated that his government’s commitment to ending banditry is unwavering.
“The headlines say the Katsina State Government was negotiating with bandits, but that was far from reality,” Radda clarified. “I have publicly maintained that the government will not negotiate with bandits but always welcome peace.”
He explained that the ‘Katsina Model’ adopts a community-driven approach where affected communities can initiate peace accords with repentant bandits willing to surrender their weapons.
The state government, he said, only supports and monitors such processes while ensuring law and order is maintained.
The Governor highlighted that the initiative has yielded tangible results, with areas such as Jibia recording eight months without a major attack, while Batsari has enjoyed seven months of uninterrupted peace. Other local governments, including Danmusa, Safana, Faskari, and Sabuwa, have also witnessed relative calm.
Radda stressed that kinetic actions by federal security agencies remain crucial to the overall success of the anti-banditry campaign, issuing a stern warning that anyone returning to crime will face the full force of the law.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr. Nasir Mu’azu, commended the governor’s homegrown security strategy, noting that the C-Watch initiative has empowered able-bodied youths to serve as the first line of defence in their communities.
The newly trained officers, 50 each from Kankia and Dutsin Ma Local Government Areas represent the third phase of the C-Watch training since its inception in 2023.