Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda
Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, has made it clear that his administration has no intention of engaging in negotiations with bandits disrupting the peace in parts of the state.
Instead, he reaffirmed his commitment to restoring security while remaining open to genuine peace efforts.
Speaking on Wednesday during the inauguration of 100 additional members of the Community Watch Corps (C-Watch) in Katsina, Radda reflected on the early challenges his government faced when launching the initiative nearly two years ago.
“At that time, the government was in uncharted territory—the learning curve was steep, and the uncertainty was high,” he said. “We were a new administration with the arduous task of bringing peace and security to many parts of the state.”
The governor reiterated his unwavering stance against negotiating with criminal elements:
> “The headlines say the Katsina State Government was negotiating with bandits, but that was far from reality. I have publicly maintained that the government will not negotiate with bandits but always welcome peace.”
Radda emphasized that the state’s approach—widely referred to as the Katsina Model—places the power in the hands of local communities. He explained that the initiative allows residents to lead dialogue efforts with repentant bandits willing to surrender.
“The role of the State Government is to encourage and support the peace process while maintaining law and order in these communities,” he said. “Our focus is to ensure that communities that enjoy peace also benefit socio-economically, giving our people a dignified existence.”
Highlighting the progress of the model, Radda cited notable successes:
> “Jibia has gone eight months without a major attack, and Batsari has recorded seven months of uninterrupted peace. Other local governments like Danmusa, Safana, Faskari, and Sabuwa have also witnessed relative calm.”
He stressed that despite the community-led peace efforts, conventional security strategies remain vital:
> “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.”
Earlier, Dr. Nasir Mu’azu, Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, commended the governor’s grassroots-focused strategy, crediting it for significantly reducing insecurity.
> “No doubt, he saw, he analysed, and he conquered—using a homegrown initiative where young, able-bodied men from their communities were selected, screened, trained, and deployed to serve as the first line of defence,” Mu’azu said.
Wednesday’s event marked the third phase of the C-Watch training programme, following earlier batches in October 2023 and November 2024. According to Mu’azu, the newly trained 100 officers will be deployed to Kankia and Dutsin-Ma Local Government Areas, with 50 officers assigned to each location.
NAN
