Katsina Governor Offers Peace to Bandits Who Surrender

Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State has made a new offer for talks and rehabilitation to bandits willing to stop their violent ways. He urged those hiding in forests across the North-west to put down their weapons and return to their communities.

The governor spoke on Thursday during the opening of 152 housing units and other projects meant for internally displaced persons (IDPs). This initiative is a partnership between the Katsina State Government, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the German government, and other partners.

Mr Radda said the state is focused on building peace while also continuing security efforts. He emphasized that there are chances for true repentance and reintegration for those ready to leave behind their criminal activities.

“To our brothers and sisters in the bush and forests, to those who still raise weapons against our people and have embraced banditry, kidnapping and violence, hear me clearly today: there is a better way,” the governor said.

“The doors for dialogue, repentance and reintegration remain open. Lay down your arms, come back to your families and communities. The same opportunities being delivered here today can be yours tomorrow, not through fear or bloodshed, but through peace, good governance and honest labour.”

The housing project, located in Jibia Local Government Area, aims to help families who have suffered from years of armed attacks, kidnappings, and other insecurities in the state.

According to the governor, each family will receive a house, mattresses, mats, blankets, cooking stoves, a bag of rice, and a cash grant of N200,000 to help them start over.

“These houses are far more than walls and roofs. They are a promise kept to internally displaced families who endured the cruel pain of banditry, kidnapping and violent crime,” Mr Radda said.

“Families who lost loved ones, livelihoods and the simple dignity of a place to call home. Today, we restore that dignity. Today, we tell every displaced mother, father and child in Katsina State that they have not been forgotten and never will be.”

He added that the project, which started in October 2024, has become a reality thanks to the teamwork between the state government and its partners.

The governor pointed out that the intervention includes more than just housing. It also covers infrastructure and support for people’s livelihoods, aimed at tackling some of the reasons behind conflict and displacement.

Some of the projects launched include a Climate Peace Entrepreneurship Centre, solar mini-grid electrification, a veterinary clinic, market stalls and shops, VIP toilets at the cattle market, rehabilitation of a cattle loading ramp, potable water facilities and street lighting.

Mr Radda said the government’s spending on housing, agriculture, livelihoods, and community infrastructure is meant to offer alternatives to crime while ensuring long-term peace.

“The root causes of insecurity, poverty, displacement, climate stress, unemployment and weak livelihoods will not yield to one project, one ministry or one government acting alone,” he said. “They demand sustained, coordinated and ambitious partnerships.”

The governor also mentioned improvements in security in parts of Katsina State, especially in Batsari and Jibia areas, which have suffered badly from bandit attacks.

He said farmers are returning to their lands during both rainy and dry seasons, markets are reopening, and school attendance is improving.

“Across the state, our farmers have returned to their fields in both rainy and dry seasons. Productivity has risen, and prices of several food items are beginning to ease. Children are returning to school. Markets are reopening. Hope is rising,” he said.

“Indeed, we are determined that the insecurity that has scarred our region will in the nearest possible future be confined to history.”

At the event, UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, Elsie Attafuah, called the project an important step towards restoring dignity and rebuilding communities affected by conflict and displacement.

“It is about families rebuilding their lives. It is about communities recovering from hardship. It is about creating opportunities for a more secure and prosperous future,” Ms Attafuah said.

She recognized the effects of insecurity, displacement, and climate-related issues on people in North-west Nigeria but praised residents for their strength.

“Despite these challenges, the people have shown remarkable resilience, and the investments we are commissioning today are designed to support that resilience,” she said.

According to her, the 152 housing units provide “more than shelter; they provide dignity, stability and a place families can once again call home.”

Katsina is one of the states hardest hit by banditry and kidnapping in North-west Nigeria. Over the years, many residents have been forced to leave their homes due to attacks on rural areas. Authorities have tried both military action and dialogue to cut down on violence.

Mr Radda’s latest appeal comes as his administration continues to mix security actions with economic recovery, rehabilitation, and community development programs in places affected by conflict.