Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umar Radda, on Friday, June 12, 2026, extended a direct appeal to bandits operating across the state's forests, urging them to lay down their arms and embrace peace. Speaking during the inauguration of 152 housing units for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Jibia Local Government Area, Radda declared that the doors for dialogue, repentance and reintegration remain open to those willing to abandon violence.
“To those our brothers and sisters in the bush or in the forest, to those who still raise weapons against our own people, to those who have taken to banditry, kidnapping and violence, hear me very well today. There is a better way,” the governor said. “Lay down your arms, come back to your families, come back to your communities.” Radda stressed that individuals who renounce violence would not be excluded from government intervention programmes. According to him, they would have access to the same opportunities available to other citizens, including housing assistance and financial support. “The same houses, the same grants, the same opportunities being delivered here today can be yours tomorrow — not through fear, not through bloodshed, but through peace, good governance and honest labour,” he said. “Choose your children over your weapons, choose prosperity over destruction and choose life.”
The housing project, located in Magama, Jibia Local Government Area, was executed under the Northwest Prevention Facility Project, a partnership between the Katsina State Government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with support from the German government through GIZ and the Norwegian government. The project was first flagged off in October 2024 and comprises 152 housing units, a climate peace hub, a veterinary clinic, an entrepreneurship centre, a 50‑kilowatt mini solar grid, market stalls, VIP toilets at the cattle market, a rehabilitated cattle loading ramp, potable water facilities and streetlights. Commissioner for Rural and Social Development, Abdulhamid Ahmad, said the housing units were designed to reflect local cultural and architectural traditions, with each home comprising two bedrooms, a bathroom, a toilet and a spacious courtyard. He added that the 152 beneficiaries — 70 women and 82 men — were transparently selected from communities across the eleven wards of Jibia Local Government Area that had been most affected by banditry.
Radda announced that each beneficiary family would receive a housing unit along with relief materials and financial support, including mattresses, mats, blankets, cooking stoves, a bag of rice and a cash grant of N200,000. “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. 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,” the governor said.
The appeal to bandits follows what the governor described as a U‑turn on his earlier position not to engage bandits in dialogue. Speaking at the same event, Radda reiterated that the state government remains willing to engage bandits and kidnappers who genuinely denounce criminal activities, stressing that the government is prepared to facilitate their reintegration. “The doors for dialogue, repentance and reintegration remain open to you,” he said. The governor identified poverty, displacement, climate change and youth unemployment as key drivers of insecurity, stressing that durable peace requires collective action from all segments of society. He called on traditional rulers, religious leaders, women and youth groups to remain vigilant, report suspicious activities and resolve conflicts before they degenerate.
Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Nasiru Danmusa, said security conditions in the state had improved markedly under the governor’s policies, with markets and roads reopening and displaced residents returning to their farms and businesses. Danmusa claimed that Jibia Local Government Area had not witnessed any deliberate attack or kidnapping in recent years. “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,” Radda added. The governor, however, emphasised that military operations alone cannot solve the security crisis, arguing that long-term peace requires addressing the social and economic factors that contribute to insecurity.
UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, Elsie Attafuah, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to supporting Katsina State’s recovery and development efforts. She praised the state’s natural beauty and economic potential, describing Katsina as one of the most impressive places she had visited. “These projects are ultimately about people — families rebuilding their lives, communities recovering from hardship, and creating opportunities for a safer and more prosperous future,” she said.
The governor’s offer of housing and grants to bandits willing to surrender drew attention for its direct and emotional appeal to those still engaged in criminal activities, framing the choice as one between continued violence and a dignified, lawful life within their communities. As insecurity continues to challenge the North‑West region, Radda’s approach represents a significant component of the state’s broader strategy to restore peace by combining security operations with socio‑economic reintegration.
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