Governor Dikko Umaru Radda of Katsina State has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to peaceful reintegration efforts, saying that the doors for dialogue, repentance and rehabilitation remain open to bandits willing to abandon violence and embrace peace.
Radda made the remarks during the commissioning of 152 mass housing units and other development projects executed 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 their communities, stressing that government remains ready to support genuine repentant individuals.
“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 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,” he said.
Radda said the state government’s ongoing investments in housing, livelihood support, agriculture and community infrastructure were designed to provide alternatives to crime while addressing underlying drivers of insecurity.
He added that sustainable peace could only be achieved in an environment where citizens have access to opportunities for dignified livelihoods and social inclusion.
The governor also noted that parts of Katsina State, including Batsari Local Government Area, have recorded relative improvements in security, allowing farmers to return to their farmlands, markets to reopen and children to resume schooling.
According to him, the government will continue to combine security operations with development programmes and peace-building initiatives to consolidate stability across the state.
Radda assured residents that his administration remains committed to safeguarding lives and property while expanding economic opportunities and reintegration pathways for those willing to renounce violence and embrace peace.
