Katsina State Governor, Dr. Dikko Radda, has reiterated his administration’s stance on zero negotiation with bandits, but stated that he would welcome any peace process aimed at addressing the incessant security challenges in the state.

Radda, who stated this yesterday at the passing-out parade of the third batch of the Community Watch Corps (CWC), clarified that negotiations with bandits in parts of the state were initiated solely by communities affected by insecurity, and not as a government policy.

The governor, who described the peace deals as the “Katsina Model,” said the process was a fully community-driven approach that allows members of affected communities to initiate and negotiate peace pacts with repentant bandits, who agree to lay down their arms.

Meanwhile, a Professor of Political Science and Defence Studies at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna, Toba Alabi, has reacted to the barrage of criticisms thrown at President Bola Tinubu about the pardon he recently granted some convicted criminals, saying there was nothing wrong in what the presidency did.

While confirming that extending the prerogative of mercy to the 175 persons, particularly those convicted for drug-related offences, fraud, and murder, was constitutionally right, Alabi, however, frowned on the grant of pardon to Boko Haram killers and notorious bandits. (The Guardian)