Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State has described bandits and terrorists operating in the state as his “brothers and sisters”, urging them to lay down their arms and assuring them of reintegration.

Mr Radda made the call on Thursday while inaugurating an internally displaced persons (IDPs) housing estate constructed in the Jibia Local Government Area through a partnership between Katsina State and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

He said, “To our brothers and sisters in the forests, to those who have taken the path of banditry, kidnapping and violence, hear me clearly today: the doors for dialogue, repentance and reintegration remain open. Lay down your arms and return to your families and communities.

“Choose your children over your weapons. Choose prosperity over destruction. Choose life. The government of Katsina State stands ready to receive all sons and daughters who choose the path of peace.”

Mr Radda’s appeal comes after several efforts to dialogue with bandits killing and abducting people in the state and other parts of the country have failed.

In 2022, Aminu Masari, a former governor of Katsina, said he regretted trusting bandits who deceived his government into believing that they had surrendered their weapons by swearing on the Qur’an in his office.

“Because they (terrorists) said they are Muslims, we went as far as asking them to swear to the holy Qur’an that they will never participate in banditry again. All of them did in this office, but even those who have been in jail for over two years, who were brought out, are today bandits’ leaders,” Mr Masari said. 

On Friday, the Borno State government announced the reintegration of 720 repentant Boko Haram terrorists, their 992 wives and 2,050 children back into society.