Governor Dikko Umaru Radda has reiterated that the Katsina State government remains committed to peaceful reintegration efforts, declaring that the doors for dialogue, repentance and rehabilitation remain open to bandits willing to abandon violence and embrace peace.
He spoke at the commissioning of 152 mass housing units and other development projects delivered through a partnership between the Katsina State Government, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the German Government and other development partners in Batsari local government area. The governor urged those involved in criminal activities to lay down their arms and return to society.
To the bandits, Radda said there was a better alternative to violence, stressing that his administration remains ready to receive and support anyone genuinely willing to renounce criminality.
“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.”
Radda urged those involved in criminal activities to choose peace and prosperity over violence, emphasizing that lasting development can only thrive in a secure environment.
He said the government’s ongoing investments in housing, livelihood support, agriculture and community infrastructure are designed to provide alternatives to crime while addressing some of the root causes of insecurity.
The governor also highlighted improvements in security across parts of the state, noting that Batsari local government area has witnessed relative peace in recent times, enabling farmers to return to their fields, markets to reopen and children to resume their education.
According to him, the state government will continue to combine security operations with development initiatives and peace-building efforts to achieve lasting stability across Katsina State.
Radda assured residents that the government remains committed to protecting lives and property while creating opportunities for economic recovery and social reintegration for those willing to embrace peace.