Malam Dikko Radda, the governor of Katsina State, has underlined that his administration will not negotiate with bandits, emphasizing that the state wishes only true and long-term peace.
He made the announcement during the inauguration of 100 new Community Watch Corps (C-Watch) officers, who will expand the security organization’s operations to 20 of the state’s 34 local governments.
Radda spoke during the passing-out ceremony for the third batch of C-Watch officers in Katsina, reflecting on his administration’s steady progress toward restoring long-term calm across the state.
There had been reports of a putative peace meeting between bandits and government officials in the state, but the governor denied the accusations.
“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 emphasized his administration’s intention to put an end to banditry in Katsina State, calling the “Katsina Model” a completely community-driven strategy.
According to him, the concept enables residents of affected communities to begin and negotiate peace treaties with penitent bandits willing to lay down their weapons.
“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.
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Radda emphasized the achievements made possible by the community peace accord program, stating that Jibia had gone eight months without a significant attack and Batsari had gone seven months without one.
“Other local government areas—Danmusa, Safana, Faskari, and Sabuwa—have also witnessed relative calm since adopting the initiative,” he added.
The governor added that the Community Watch Corps was founded to combat banditry and ensure long-term calm 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 allocated to the Kankia and Dutsin-Ma local governments, with 50 officers apiece.
Dutsin-Ma, which borders Safana, Danmusa, and Matazu, remains one of the state’s most active banditry hotspots.
Radda said that kinetic operations by federal security agencies remained crucial to Katsina’s overall security strategy.
“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 praised the Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Army, and Nigeria Police Force for their close cooperation with the state administration, pointing out that the partnership with federal agencies had enhanced intelligence sharing, response times, and coordinated operations.
The governor charged the new officers with maintaining 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.
In carrying out your obligations, you must maintain integrity, professionalism, and respect for human rights,” he stated.
The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Nasir Mu’azu, praised the initiative, saying, “No doubt, he saw, he analyzed, 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 defense for their mothers, fathers, wives, daughters, sisters, brothers, and friends.”
Mu’azu stated that the event marked the third phase of C-Watch training, after the first in October 2023 and the second in November 2024.
Maj. Gen. Junaidu Bindawa (retd), Chairman of the Standing Committee on the Katsina State Community Watch Corps, stated that recruits received extensive training in minor tactics, weapon handling, communication, arrests, community policing, rules of engagement, and intelligence gathering.
He stated that the purpose was to develop disciplined, professional, and community-focused operators.
Bindawa did, however, identify areas that needed to be improved, particularly in command and control from the lowest levels to the state headquarters, to ensure better coordination and accountability.
