Governor of Katsina State, Dikko Radda, has disclosed that he allowed communities in the state to negotiate with bandits.
Radda said the affected communities had pleaded with him to allow them to negotiate with bandits in a bid to restore peace in the state.
In an interview with Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Radda said the communities that negotiated with bandits have been enjoying peace for over one year.
He, however, noted that he would never order any bandit to lay down their arms, stressing that such negotiations was not his position but that of the community.
Radda said: “The problem that we have here was that when the challenges were so much, the communities approached me saying ‘Look your Excellency, we have met with those people and they are ready to lay down their arms, we have suffered so much, and we are not getting what we need from the security agencies in term of protection. Sir allow us to negotiate with these people if we can find peace.’ And I said you can go ahead but I will not be part of it.
“So they went ahead and as I speak today, there are some communities that have negotiated with these bandits and for over one year no attack in those places. When you see anything, they came from other places not from that location.
“So we had peace in most of the local governments. I allowed them because that is what they want and that I’m here as a governor it’s based on their wish, they have given me mandate and who am I to say I don’t like what they want to do? The community has spoken and I said they can go ahead and do it as long as it will give you what you want.
“Majority of these communities that entered into this negotiations have gotten what they want, they have peace in their place, they move around and go to their farms. But me as a governor, I will not call any bandit to lay down your arms or negotiate.”