Banditry: A small but mighty security challenge in Nigeria

Banditry started as farmers-herders clashes where herders intentionally or sometimes mistakenly chased their animals into farms. Animals ate whatever they came across, especially crops. This got farmers angry so much that some of them took laws into their hands by attacking herders. Clashes metamorphosed into cattle rustling, attacks on gold miners and kidnappings, leading to […]

Banditry started as farmers-herders clashes where herders intentionally or sometimes mistakenly chased their animals into farms. Animals ate whatever they came across, especially crops. This got farmers angry so much that some of them took laws into their hands by attacking herders. Clashes metamorphosed into cattle rustling, attacks on gold miners and kidnappings, leading to loss of lives, destruction of valuable property and closure of schools.

The Zamfara State Government announced that between 2011 and 2019, over 2,169 people were killed, 1,190 people were kidnapped and the sum of N970 million was paid as ransom.

Such similar scenarios also happened in  Katsina, Kaduna, Sokoto, Niger and several other northern states.

Sadly too, bandits fearlessly invade houses of their targets without restrictions from security forces and unleash terror on them.  Most times security personnel come later after bandits had wrecked havoc and kidnapped their victims.

A security analyst once told  DailyTrust that kidnappings for ransom had become a normalcy and institutionalized that it now bears the mark of legal enterprise.

This view is in line with the kidnapping indices analysed by the Minister of Women Affairs Mrs Pauline Tallen during a press briefing in commemoration of  the 2021 International Women’s Day. According to her,  more than 1,157 students were kidnapped in seven years.

High level of poverty and unbearable prices of commodities are among the factors that push many people into banditry.

Most of the bandits are unemployed young men who are strong enough to pursue education or venture into business.

For our dear country to be free from banditry, first of all government approach of carrot and stick is commendable but dialogue with leaders of bandits is the key. This would help  government to know their demands and resolve their grievances amicably.

Also, herdsmen should be given wide pasturelands close to their residences to feed their animals.  This will stop them from invading people’s farms with their animals which always lead to clashes.  May God Grant Nigeria Absolute Peace!!

 

Mukhtar Garba Kobi (08100358411)