Radda: Attacks Won’t Deter Us from Eliminating Terrorists

Insists he’ll never negotiate with them

Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, yesterday, said the persistent attacks by terrorists on communities in the state would not deter his government from also eliminating the marauding hoodlums.

He explained that the urchins were seeking truce with the state government through their heinous activities, but his administration would never negotiate with them.

Speaking at a press conference to mark his administration's 100 days, Radda insisted that his government was adopting some security measures to combat the challenges bedevilling residents of the state.

He explained that over N7 billion had been spent by his government in the purchase of armoured personnel carriers, 65 Hilux vehicles, 700 motorcycles and other security gadgets to ensure the safety of lives and properties of the citizens.

He also added that the state government had recruited and trained 1,500 youths under its Katsina Community Watch Corps to work with security agencies in tackling security challenges in frontline local government areas of the state.

Radda noted that his government would not pay ransom to terrorists for the release of abductees, but would accept any terrorist that genuinely denounced terrorism and other criminal acts.

According to him, "The issue of insecurity is of paramount importance to my administration. The creation of the Ministry of Internal Security and Katsina State Community Watch Corps was the beginning of institutionalising our strategy to deal with insecurity.

"We have so far recruited 1,500 community watch officers from the eight frontline local governments to empower our people to defend themselves. My administration had expended over N7 billion to procure armoured personnel carriers, 65 Hilux vehicles and 700 motorcycles."

He however, promised to spare no efforts in dealing decisively with the criminal gangs terrorising communities in eight local government areas of the state.