Thursday, October 16, 2025 - Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Radda, has reaffirmed that his administration is not negotiating with bandits, stressing that the state seeks only genuine and sustainable peace.
He made this declaration during the inauguration of 100 new
officers of the Community Watch Corps (C-Watch), which will extend the security
outfit’s operations to 20 of the state’s 34 local government areas.
Speaking at the passing-out ceremony of the third batch of
C-Watch officers in Katsina, Radda reflected on his administration’s steady
progress toward restoring lasting peace across the state.
There had been reports of a supposed peace meeting between
bandits and government officials in the state, but the governor dismissed the
claims as false.
“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.
He reaffirmed his administration’s determination to
decisively end banditry in Katsina State, describing what he called the
“Katsina Model” as a fully community-driven approach.
According to him, the model allows members of affected
communities to initiate and negotiate peace pacts with repentant bandits who
agree to lay down their arms.
“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,” he said.
Radda highlighted the successes recorded through the
community peace accord initiative, noting that Jibia had enjoyed eight months
without a major attack, while Batsari had recorded seven months of
uninterrupted peace.
“Other local government areas — Danmusa, Safana, Faskari,
and Sabuwa — have also witnessed relative calm since adopting the initiative,”
he added.
The governor explained that the Community Watch Corps was
established to combat banditry and entrench lasting peace in 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.
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.”
The newly graduated officers will be deployed to Kankia and
Dutsin-Ma local government areas, with 50 officers assigned to each.
Dutsin-Ma, which shares boundaries with Safana, Danmusa, and
Matazu, remains one of the epicentres of banditry in the state.
Radda affirmed that kinetic operations by federal security
agencies remained central to Katsina’s overall security architecture.
“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,” he warned.
He commended the Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Army, and
Nigeria Police Force for their strong collaboration with the state government,
noting that the synergy with federal agencies had improved intelligence
sharing, response times, and coordinated operations.
The governor charged the new officers to uphold
professionalism and respect for human rights at all times.
“You are entrusted not only with maintaining security but
also with representing the shared goals of a peaceful and prosperous Katsina
State.
It is essential to uphold integrity, professionalism, and
respect for human rights in the discharge of your duties,” he said.
The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs,
Nasir Mu’azu, lauded the initiative, saying:
“No doubt, he saw, he analysed, and he conquered — using a
homegrown, community-based approach in which able-bodied young men from their
various communities were selected, screened, trained, and deployed to serve as
the first line of defence for their mothers, fathers, wives, daughters,
sisters, brothers, and friends.”
Mu’azu noted that the event marked the third phase of the
C-Watch training, following the first in October 2023 and the second in
November 2024.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Standing Committee on the
Katsina State Community Watch Corps, Maj. Gen. Junaidu Bindawa (retd), said the
recruits underwent intensive training in minor tactics, weapon handling,
communication, arrests, community policing, rules of engagement, and
intelligence gathering.
He said the goal was to produce disciplined, professional,
and community-focused operatives.
Bindawa, however, identified areas requiring improvement, particularly in command and control from the lowest levels to the state headquarters, to ensure better coordination and accountability.
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