Katsina Governor Denies Bandit Negotiations, Emphasizes Community-Led Peace Model

By: Abudu Olalekan

Katsina Governor Dikko Radda says no. No negotiations with bandits. Not happening. Never did. And he’s tired of the headlines.

“I’ve said it before. I’ll say it again,” he told a crowd in Katsina, fresh off the passing-out parade of 100 new C-Watch officers. “We are not negotiating with bandits. But we are open to peace.”

Wait. That sounds confusing. But it’s not.

Here’s the thing—there’s a difference. A big one. Negotiating with criminals? That’s a line the governor says he won’t cross. But supporting peace talks started by communities? That’s different. That’s the “Katsina Model.”

It’s not top-down. It’s from the ground up. Villagers. Elders. Families who’ve buried too many sons. They’re the ones reaching out to repentant bandits. Those who want to come back. Lay down arms. Surrender.

And when that happens? The state steps in. Not to bargain. But to support. To help reintegrate. To make sure peace doesn’t just happen—it sticks.

Radda was clear. “Our role is to encourage. To back the process. But law and order? That stays.”

And look—results are showing. Jibia? Eight months without a major attack. Batsari? Seven. Danmusa, Safana, Faskari, Sabuwa—calm. Not perfect. But better. Much better than two years ago.

That’s why the C-Watch keeps growing. Third batch just graduated. 100 new officers. Half going to Kankia. Half to Dutsin-Ma—one of the toughest zones. Borders Danmusa, Safana, Matazu. Hotspots. Always have been.

“We were in uncharted territory when we started this,” Radda admitted. “No roadmap. No guarantees. Just a promise—to bring peace.”

He campaigned on it. And now? He’s trying to deliver. No drama. No shortcuts.

Kinetic ops still matter. Big time. He gave credit to the Army, Air Force, Police. “Synergy is improving,” he said. Intel sharing. Faster responses. Joint raids. But C-Watch? They’re the eyes on the ground. The first alert. The local face of security.

Commissioner Nasir Mu’azu put it strong: “He saw. He analysed. He conquered.” Talking about Radda. Homegrown solution. Young men from their own towns. Trained. Equipped. Deployed to protect their own.

Retired Major General Junaidu Bindawa—chair of the C-Watch committee—said the training was intense. Weapon handling. Tactics. Arrest procedures. Community policing. Rules of engagement. Even comms.

“We want professionals,” he said. “Not vigilantes.”

But he also pointed out the cracks. Command and control needs work. From the field up to headquarters. Coordordination can lag. Accountability? Sometimes blurry. Fix that, and C-Watch could be even stronger.

Now, about those rumours—peace meetings, secret talks, government handshakes with bandits. Radda called them false. “We don’t negotiate with criminals,” he repeated. But peace? Always welcome. If it’s real. If it lasts.

And the state’s betting on its people. On trust. On local wisdom.

So no, Katsina isn’t making deals in dark rooms. But they are building peace—one village at a time.

Reportersroom checked. No evidence of official talks. Just communities tired of bloodshed, trying to heal.

That’s not surrender. That’s strategy.

It’s messy. It’s slow. But for the first time in years? There’s hope. Real hope.