Katsina State Governor, Dr. Dikko Radda, has reiterated his administration’s zero-negotiation stance with bandits but said his government welcomes community-led peace efforts aimed at addressing insecurity in the state.
Speaking on Wednesday at the passing-out parade of the third batch of the Community Watch Corps (CWC), Radda clarified that negotiations with bandits in parts of the state were initiated solely by affected communities and not as a government policy.
The governor described the peace process as the “Katsina Model” — a community-driven approach that empowers residents of affected areas to initiate and negotiate peace pacts with repentant bandits willing to surrender their arms.
“The headlines say the Katsina State Government is negotiating with bandits, but that is far from reality. I have publicly maintained that the government will not negotiate with bandits but will always welcome peace,” Radda said.
“The role of the state government is to encourage and support the peace process while maintaining law and order in these communities. Our focus is to ensure that communities that enjoy peace also benefit socio-economically, giving our people a dignified existence.”
Radda noted that the initiative had yielded positive results, citing Jibia Local Council’s eight-month stretch without a major attack and Batsari’s seven months of uninterrupted peace.
He added that other insecurity-prone areas — including Danmusa, Safana, Faskari, and Sabuwa — had also experienced relative calm since adopting the approach.
Reflecting on the establishment of the CWC in 2023, the governor said the outfit was created as part of efforts to tackle insecurity across the state.
“When we launched the Community Watch Corps over two years ago, we were in uncharted territory. The learning curve was steep, and the uncertainty was high. We were a new administration with the arduous task of bringing peace and security to many parts of the state,” he said.
“The only thing I was certain of was my administration’s determination to bring an end to banditry in Katsina State. I campaigned on it, and the trust of the people was not going to be forsaken.
“This ceremony is proof that the state government will not relent in fighting insecurity and banditry wherever they exist. Those who wish to return to crime will face the full force of the law.”
The third batch of 100 CWC operatives, according to the governor, will be deployed to Kankia and Dutsinma Local Councils, with 50 officers assigned to each area.
