By Citizenship Newspaper
The Katsina State Community Watch training and operations has attracted its two neighboring states of Kano and Zamfara who have requested to send their personnel to be trained in Katsina under Katsina’s C-Watch.
This was revealed by the Chairman of the State Committee overseeing the training of Security Corps, Major General Junaidu Bindawa (Rtd) on Wednesday during the passing out of 100 new officers of the Community Watch Corps (C-Watch).
Bindawa who explained that the trainees were not trained to create problems but to solve them, also said they work closely with other security agencies, especially the Nigeria Police Force, and always operate within the law and in the interest of peace.
In his address at the event, Governor Radda reflected on his administration’s steady journey toward restoring lasting peace across the state.
“When we launched the Community Watch Corps over two years ago, we were in uncharted territory. The learning curve was steep, and the uncertainty was high. We were a new administration with the arduous task of bringing peace and security to many parts of the state,” the governor said.
He added: “The only thing I was certain of was my administration’s determination to bring an end to banditry in Katsina State. I campaigned on it, and the trust of the people was not going to be forsaken.”
The newly graduated officers will be deployed to Kankia and Dutsin-Ma Local Government Areas, with 50 officers assigned to each.
Dutsin-Ma, which borders Safana, Danmusa, and Matazu, remains one of the epicentres of banditry in the state.
“The headlines say the Katsina State Government is negotiating with bandits, but that is far from reality. I have publicly maintained that the government will not negotiate with bandits but will always welcome peace,” Governor Radda again declared.
He explained that the “Katsina Model” is a fully community-driven approach, allowing members of affected communities to initiate and negotiate peace pacts with repentant bandits who agree to lay down their arms.
“The role of the state government is to encourage and support the peace process while maintaining law and order in these communities. Our focus is to ensure that communities that enjoy peace also benefit socio-economically, giving our people a dignified existence,” he said.
The governor highlighted the success of the community peace accord initiative, noting that Jibia has enjoyed eight months without a major attack, while Batsari has recorded seven months of uninterrupted peace. Other local governments—Danmusa, Safana, Faskari, and Sabuwa—have also witnessed relative calm since adopting the initiative.
Governor Radda reaffirmed that kinetic measures by federal security agencies remain vital to Katsina’s overall security architecture.
“This ceremony is proof that the state government will not relent in fighting insecurity and banditry wherever they exist. Those who wish to return to crime will face the full force of the law,” he warned.
He commended the Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Army, and Nigeria Police for their strong collaboration with the state government, noting that synergy with federal agencies has improved intelligence sharing, response times, and coordinated operations.
Earlier in his remarks, the State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr. Nasir Mu’azu, said Governor Radda has greatly reduced insecurity in the state.
“No doubt, he saw, he analyzed, and he conquered using a homegrown initiative of community approach where young able men from their various communities were selected, screened, trained, and deployed to serve as the first line of defense to their mothers, fathers, wives, daughters, sisters, brothers, and friends,” the Commissioner said.
Dr. Nasir further noted that this marks the third phase of the C-Watch training—after the first in October 2023 and the second in November 2024.
In attendance at the ceremony
were the Commissioner of Police; Director of the DSS; Commander of the Nigerian Air Force; Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC); representative of the NDLEA; Commandant of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Katsina Command.
Others were representatives of the Katsina and Daura Emirates; Commandant of the VIO; Commandant of KCWC, Katsina; representative of the Nigerian Army; Executive Secretary of SUBEB; representatives of the State Service Chiefs; as well as other top government officials from both the Federal and Katsina State Governments.
