Governor Dikko Umaru Radda of Katsina State has publicly confirmed that his administration is engaged in negotiations with bandit groups operating in several frontline local government areas, marking a significant shift in the state’s approach to tackling insecurity.

Speaking at the launch of an 18-month European Union-funded initiative—Conflict Prevention, Crisis Response and Resilience (CPCRR)—Radda stated that peace talks have already restored relative calm in four of the eight high-risk local councils. Negotiations are ongoing in two additional areas.

“This project is not a top-down intervention. It is community-owned, locally-led and culturally-sensitive,” Radda said, emphasizing that the peace process is rooted in local engagement and inclusive planning. “We are able to resolve crises in four of our frontline local governments… and negotiation is going on in two additional frontline local governments”.

The CPCRR project, implemented by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in partnership with the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) and Mercy Corps, aims to address the root causes of conflict and build resilience in vulnerable communities across Katsina and Zamfara states.

IOM Chief of Mission Dimanche Sharon noted that over 1.3 million people have been displaced in Nigeria’s Northwest region since February 2025, including large numbers of women and children.

“Too many families have been displaced, too many farms abandoned, and too many lives disrupted by insecurity,” - Sharon

Governor Radda, who had previously distanced himself from dialogue with armed groups, acknowledged that the community-led peace initiative has yielded tangible results. The state government is now focusing on strengthening local governance and socio-economic recovery in affected areas.

The CPCRR project targets more than 95,000 individuals and includes components such as early warning systems, vocational training, and support for climate-smart agriculture. It is part of a broader effort to stabilize communities and prevent future violence.