Katsina Will Not Negotiate with Terrorists, Says Gov

Francis Sardauna in Katsina 

Governor Dikko Umaru Radda of Katsina State on Thursday said his government would never embark on peace negotiations or engage terrorists in any dialogue in the state.

He reiterated that his administration has no intention of engaging any leader of terrorists or their agents in the name of a peace deal that has never worked before.

Radda, who spoke at a special prayer session on sustainability of peace in Katsina held at the People’s Square, opposite Government House, said he would channel the state’s resources to security in order to crush the urchins.

The prayer session was organised by the state Ministry of Religious Affairs in collaboration with the state Council of Ulamas, during which prayers were offered by renowned Islamic scholars for peace to reign in Katsina and Niger Republic.

Radda said: “We have no plan to negotiate with bandits but bandits who are ready to genuinely repent and surrender their arms for the development of Katsina, we are ready to accept them and integrate them into the society.”

He further said the state government would work assiduously in collaboration with security agencies to make sure that the war against insecurity is taken to the doorstep of the hoodlums.

He added that the state government would procure and distribute operational vehicles and motorcycles to security agencies and the state-owned Community Watch Corps to mitigate their operational challenges.

Governor Radda called on the people of the state to cooperate with the government on its policies and programmes, adding that they were aimed at alleviating the suffering of the masses.

He explained that the reality on the ground had shown that the security of lives and property is a collective responsibility and not that of the government or security agencies alone.