‘Houses, Grants Could Be Yours’ — Katsina Governor Radda Offers Reintegration Package to Bandits
Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, has appealed to bandits operating in the state’s forests to surrender their weapons and embrace peace, assuring them of rehabilitation and access to government support programmes.
Radda made the appeal on Friday during the inauguration of 152 housing units built for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Jibia Local Government Area of the state.
Katsina remains one of the states most affected by banditry in Nigeria’s North-West region, with communities facing years of attacks, kidnappings, displacement and disruption of economic activities, particularly farming.
Addressing those involved in criminal activities, the governor said the government was willing to engage repentant bandits through dialogue, rehabilitation and reintegration initiatives.
“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,” Radda said.
“The doors for dialogue, repentance and reintegration remain open to you. Lay down your arms, come back to your families, come back to your communities.”
The governor assured those willing to renounce violence that they would have access to the same social intervention programmes being enjoyed by law-abiding citizens.
According to him, former bandits who embrace peace could benefit from housing schemes, financial support and other empowerment initiatives designed to improve livelihoods.
“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.”
Radda reiterated his administration’s readiness to support anyone willing to abandon criminal activities and reintegrate into society.
He noted that despite ongoing security challenges, concerted efforts by the state government and security agencies were beginning to yield positive results in several communities across the state.
The governor stressed that military operations alone could not permanently solve insecurity, adding that addressing poverty, unemployment and other socio-economic challenges was critical to achieving lasting peace.
“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,” he said.
“Indeed, we are determined that the insecurity that has scarred our region will, in the nearest possible future, be confined to history.”
Radda further explained that the housing project, which was flagged off in October 2024 through a partnership between the Katsina State Government and development partners, was part of efforts to support communities devastated by violence and displacement.
He disclosed that each beneficiary family would receive household items, a bag of rice and a cash grant of N200,000 in addition to the newly constructed homes.
The governor described the initiative as a demonstration of his administration’s commitment to rebuilding lives, restoring dignity and fostering long-term peace in affected communities.