Katsina State Governor, Dr Dikko Radda, on Friday declared that community-initiated peace deals with bandits in the state are already yielding “very positive results,” leading to a sharp decline in attacks, kidnappings and spending on victims’ welfare.
Radda stated this during a tour of Batsari and Danmusa Local Government Areas, where he drove through the Danburum Forest — formerly one of the deadliest bandit enclaves in the North-West.
The governor said he deliberately passed through the route to personally assess the reported improvement in security. Danburum Forest, once a major hiding spot for armed groups, had recorded hundreds of deaths and kidnappings over the years.
According to him, normalcy is gradually returning as residents have resumed farming and other livelihood activities that were abandoned due to violence.
“I thank God that the peace deal initiative organised by the communities is yielding very positive results,” he said.
“In the last few days, I have not received a single security incident from our security forces like I used to.”
During the stopover inside the forest, some passengers travelling with the convoy reportedly alighted, trekked a short distance and picked edible wild fruits — an action seen as a symbolic display of renewed confidence in the once-dangerous zone.
Radda also revealed that the peace initiative has significantly reduced the state’s financial burden in supporting victims of banditry.
He said the government agency responsible for footing medical and related bills for affected residents spent less than N2 million in November, a sharp contrast to the N40 million monthly expenditure recorded previously.
“Before now, the agency used to spend over N40 million every month to address health bills for victims. That figure has drastically reduced,” he said.
The governor added that support for families of kidnapped or killed victims has also dropped due to fewer incidents, describing the development as evidence that the peace pact is working.
While expressing optimism, Radda admitted that Katsina is “not completely free from banditry,” stressing that the government and communities must continue to work together to sustain the gains recorded.
He called on religious leaders to intensify prayers for lasting peace in the state.
“We are making significant progress, but we have to keep praying and keep working together to maintain and strengthen this peace,” he said.
The governor’s tour continues across the remaining local government areas as he reviews security, development and social welfare conditions.
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