Insecurity: Katsina Govt Sets Up Disarmament, Reintegration Committee
Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has inaugurated the State Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR), Peace and Security Committee, which would be under the guidance of the Office of the National Security Adviser.
The committee is to oversee the profiling, screening, rehabilitation, and reintegration of individuals and groups willing to renounce violence and embrace peaceful coexistence in the state.
Katsina is among states in the country facing internal threats from bandits, who have been operating in at least eleven local government areas of the state.
The committee is expected to submit periodic reports and collaborate with relevant stakeholders in carrying out its assignment.
The initiative follows the National Policy Framework developed after consultations convened by the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) in collaboration with the United Kingdom Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (UK-SPRING) Programme across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
According to Governor Radda, the initiative is part of a nationwide strategy aimed at promoting sustainable peace and stability through community-driven and coordinated interventions.
“This programme has been launched across all six geopolitical zones of the country to ensure sustainable peace and development in Nigeria,” he said, adding that Katsina State was selected as one of the pilot states due to its commitment to community engagement and non-kinetic security strategies.
“Katsina State was selected in recognition of its consistent efforts in community-driven security engagement and its adoption of non-violent approaches in addressing insecurity,” he added.
The governor explained that the National Counter Terrorism Centre, in collaboration with UK-SPRING, developed the national framework, which requires each state to establish a dedicated committee for implementation.
The committee is chaired by the Secretary to the State Government, with the Attorney General of the State, Commissioners for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Agriculture, and Youth and Sports Development, the Special Adviser on Community Security Watch, and the State Commandant of the Community Security Watch Corps, as members.
Other members include the Executive Secretary of SEMA; the Executive Director, Katsina State Development Management Board; Chairman of the House Committee on Security; representatives of the Police, Katsina and Daura Emirate Councils, the Council of Ulama; and Civil Society Organizations, while the Governor’s Office serves as Secretariat.
The Chairman of the Committee, Barr. Abdullahi Garba Faskari, expressed appreciation to the Governor for the confidence reposed in the members, and commended the collaboration between the National Counter Terrorism Centre, UK-SPRING Programme, and DDR experts in supporting the initiative.
He pledged the committee’s commitment to professionalism and strict adherence to its terms of reference in delivering sustainable peace outcomes.
