Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, has appealed to bandits terrorising communities in the North-West to abandon violence and embrace peace, assuring them of government support if they surrender and reintegrate into society.
The governor made the appeal on Thursday during the commissioning of 152 housing units built for internally displaced persons in Jibia Local Government Area.
Radda said the security crisis in the region had gone beyond criminality, noting that poverty, unemployment, climate challenges and weak social structures had contributed to the rise in banditry and kidnappings.
Addressing armed groups operating in forests across the region, the governor said the state government remained willing to engage those genuinely ready to repent.
He urged them to drop their weapons and return to their families and communities, stressing that opportunities for a better life were available through peaceful means.
According to him, those who embrace peace could benefit from government interventions similar to the housing and empowerment packages being provided to displaced residents.
“The same opportunities being delivered here today can also become yours through peace, hard work and lawful living,” the governor said.
Radda noted that the Jibia housing project, which began in October 2024, was executed through partnerships involving the Katsina State Government and international development organisations.
He disclosed that beneficiaries would receive household items including mattresses, mats, blankets and cooking stoves, in addition to a bag of rice and a cash grant of N200,000.
The governor described the project as part of broader efforts to restore dignity and hope to victims displaced by insecurity and violent attacks.
Beyond the housing scheme, he said the intervention also included solar-powered electricity, a Climate Peace Entrepreneurship Centre, potable water supply, market stalls, sanitation facilities and a veterinary clinic.
Radda stated that security had improved significantly in Jibia, adding that the area had not witnessed deliberate attacks or kidnappings in recent years.
He also said many farmers had returned to their farms while economic activities and school attendance were gradually recovering across affected communities.
The governor commended development partners, including the United Nations Development Programme, the German Government through GIZ and the Norwegian Government, for supporting the initiative.
According to him, addressing insecurity in the North-West requires long-term collaboration aimed at tackling poverty, displacement and poor livelihoods.
Speaking at the event, UNDP Resident Representative Elsie Attafuah described the housing project as a major step toward rebuilding communities devastated by conflict.
She said the initiative would help displaced families regain stability and create opportunities for safer and more prosperous lives.
