• As Sokoto warns citizens against fleeing bandits
Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State has declared his administration will not negotiate with criminals, particularly bandits.
Radda made the declaration while hosting the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 8 Division and Commander, Joint Task Force, Northwest Operations, Maj.-Gen. Ibikunle Ademola Ajose, during a courtesy visit to the Government House, Katsina State.
Radda, however, said his administration could only enter a peace deal with the bandits on conditions to ensure lasting peace, adding that the negotiation could only be successful with the full acceptance and involvement of the concerned members of the communities.
He said a stakeholder engagement committee has been established to ensure community involvement in peace-building initiatives, expressing openness to supporting genuine repentance and reintegration.
“The bandits are our brothers born within us but choose to be criminals. Those who sincerely surrender and seek to rebuild their lives will find support from our administration.
“We are prepared to provide resources for their reintegration and livestock management, enabling them to become productive members of society,” the governor said.
Radda also said the state government would continue to make substantial investment in security infrastructure, to ensure that crime and criminality were checked in the state.
He, therefore, pledged continued logistical support to address fuel supply challenges and maintain operational effectiveness for security operatives in the state.
He commended the leadership of the Division and Brigade Commanders, describing them as exemplary by personally leading operations and demonstrating unwavering dedication.
He said the efforts, combined with the collaborative operations of other security agencies, including state government-owned Community Watch Corps, had yielded significant improvements in the state’s security.
“Our farmers can now cultivate their lands and transport their produce to market. This tangible progress demonstrates the effectiveness of our joint security strategies,” he said.
Earlier, Maj.-Gen. Ajose said he was in the state as part of his first quarter operational visit to all states under the 8th Division, which includes Katsina, to discuss with the state government, the newly launched Operation Safe Northwest.
MEANWHILE, the Sokoto State Government has issued a warning to residents to remain vigilant as military operations against bandit terrorists intensify in the eastern part of the state and surrounding areas.
In a statement signed by the Special Adviser to Governor Ahmed Aliyu on Security Matters, Colonel Ahmed Usman (rtd), the government highlighted the success of the ongoing joint military operations, which have left the bandits disorganised.
The statement explained that multiple terrorist enclaves had been destroyed, many bandits neutralised, and hundreds of kidnapped victims rescued.
The statement urged residents to be cautious and report suspicious activities in their communities.
