Hot SourceGovernor Dikko Radda of Katsina State has said that his administration will not seek negotiation with bandits terrorizing some parts of the state but is ready to welcome peace.
Radda said this while inaugurating 100 additional Community Watch Corps (C-Watch) in Katsina on Wednesday.
He said that when his administration launched the C-Watch initiative about two years ago, “the government was in uncharted territory, the learning curve was steep, and the uncertainty was high”.
He denied reports alleging that the state government was negotiating with the troublemakers.
“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 about was my administration’s determination to bring an end to banditry.
“I campaigned on it, and the trust of the people was not going to be forsaken.
“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,” the governor said.
According to him, ‘Katsina Model’ is a fully community-driven approach, allowing members of affected communities to initiate and negotiate peace pacts with repentant bandits, who agree to lay down their arms.
