Abubakar Ismail

The menus of banditry in Kebbi state, Nigeria

Résumé

Le banditisme est un crime organisé commis par des groupes de hors-la-loi au sein d'une société. Il implique le recours à la menace ou à la violence. Le banditisme englobe des crimes tels que l'enlèvement, l'extorsion, le vol, le cambriolage, le meurtre, etc., tandis que les bandits sont des groupes armés illégaux qui terrorisent la population et confisquent leurs biens par la force, à l'aide d'armes dangereuses. Ces derniers temps, les bandits sont en possession d'armes dangereuses et sophistiquées. Ces armes dangereuses ont accru la peur et l'incertitude des communautés locales quant à la sécurité de leurs vies et de leurs biens. Ce travail, qui utilise une méthode d'enquête historique, étudie le banditisme dans l'État de Kebbi, situé au nord-ouest du Nigeria. Le banditisme est endémique dans les zones administratives locales de Danko-Wasagu, Yauri et Kalgo, dans l'État de Kebbi. Les résultats de cette recherche révèlent que la nature du banditisme dans l'État de Kebbi est préoccupante. Les bandits se livrent à des activités criminelles telles que les enlèvements contre rançon, le vol de bétail, les vols à main armée, les agressions contre les voyageurs, les commerçants, les agriculteurs, les villages, les marchés locaux, etc. dans l'État. Il est évident que dans les zones à forte criminalité, de nombreux agriculteurs ne peuvent pas se rendre dans leurs fermes en raison des activités des bandits. Cette menace pèse sur la sécurité générale et alimentaire de la nation. L'étude recommande une vaste campagne de sensibilisation afin d'informer la population sur la nécessité pour tous de contribuer à la résolution du problème de l'insécurité dans l'État de Kebbi et au Nigeria en général. Tous les Nigérians, indépendamment de leur religion, de leur race, de leur appartenance ethnique ou politique, devraient s'unir et apporter leur contribution à la résolution du problème de l'insécurité dans le pays.

Abstract

Banditry is an organized crime committed by groups of outlaws in a society. It involves the use of threat or violence. Banditry involves crimes such as kidnapping, extortion, stealing, robbery, murder, etc., while bandits are unlawful armed groups, terrorizing people and confiscating their properties by force, using dangerous weapons. In recent time, bandits are in possession of dangerous and sophisticated weapons. Such dangerous weapons inflicted more fear and uncertainties to local communities concerning the safety of their lives and properties. This work using historical method of enquiry studies banditry in Kebbi State that is located in the North-Western Nigeria. Banditry is rampant at Danko-Wasagu, Yauri and Kalgo Local Government areas of Kebbi State. The result of the findings of this research reveals that the nature of banditry in Kebbi State is a disturbing one. Bandits engage in criminal activities such as kidnapping for ransom, cattle rustling, armed robbery, theft, attacks on travellers, traders, farmers, villages, local markets, etc., in the state. It is evident that within the crime prone areas, many farmers cannot go to their farms due to activities of bandits. This menace threatens the general and food security of the nation. The study recommends massive enlightenment campaign to sensitize members of the public on the need for all to contribute towards solving the problem of in security in Kebbi State and Nigeria in general. All Nigerians, regardless of religion, race, ethnic, or political affiliation should come together and contribute their quota towards resolving the problem of insecurity in the country.

Table des matières

pp. 374-400

Introduction

1Banditry is generally viewed as an organized crime committed by outlaws, typically involving threat or use of violence. Banditry primarily consist of prodigious crimes such as kidnapping, extortion, stealing, robbery, murder, etc., perpetrated by an individual or group (Iliya 2015).1 Bandits are unlawful armed groups, terrorizing people and confiscating their properties through the use of dangerous weapons. In recent time, bandits have been seen with dangerous and sophisticated weapons that ordinarily should not be seen in the hands of terrorists. Such dangerous weapons inflicted more fear and uncertainties to local communities concerning the safety of their lives and properties.

2In Nigerian, a part from Boko Haram insurgency, banditry is the gravest security threat the country is facing at the moment. The situation is worst in northern Nigeria, especially in northwest geopolitical zone, which comprises Kaduna, Sokoto, Katsina, Zamfara, Jigawa, Kano and Kebbi States. Moreover, some states in the north-central are equally battling with those destructive elements.

3The nature of banditry in Nigeria is a disturbing one. At the moment, Bandits engage in criminal activities such as kidnapping for ransom, cattle rustling, armed robbery, theft, attacks on travellers, traders, farmers, villages local markets, etc. The devastating effect of banditry on Nigerians is enormous, it is evident that many farmers in some states within northern Nigeria cannot go to farm due to activities of bandits, this menace threatens food security of the nation. Already, the cost of food items skyrocketed in the local markets, as a result, many families cannot afford three square meals in a day due to high cost of commodities in the market.

4Many people lost their loved ones, many victims are presently at kidnapper’s den, suffering from torture and hunger, and lots of communities cannot sleep with their two eyes closed because of the fear of bandits. Lots of local markets are closed within the crime prone areas, people are afraid of travelling to a long distance because bandits can strike at any time and kidnap travellers.

5According to Azeka (2021),2 the menace of banditry has social and economic implications, the country has started experiencing shortage of food. Business activities disrupted, especially within the crime prone areas, unemployment is on the increase, killings and abductions are becoming rampant, fear of the unknown, many children stopped going to school for fear of being kidnapped and the schools within crime prone areas are closed. The situation is getting worse, no one in the country, especially within crime prone areas is at ease with the menace of banditry in Nigeria. It is not an over statement if someone points out that this clumsy situation is threatening peaceful co-existence of Nigerians, except something is done urgently to eradicate this imminent disaster, otherwise, banditry will consume many Nigerians and throw the country into awkward situation that would be difficult to reverse. Kebbi State is another hub for banditry. The activities of bandits is increasing in the state, many villages in some local governments within the state are desolated because of frequent bandit attacks.

Definition of Terms

6Banditry: Banditry is an organized crime committed by criminals typically involving the use of threat or violence. In other words, banditry is a criminal activities involving robbery, murder, rape, extortion etc. perpetrated by an individual or groups.

7Bandit: Bandit is a member of armed group of criminals who attack innocent people and steal their belongings. A person who engages in banditry is known as bandit and usually commit crimes such as armed robbery, kidnapping, murder, etc.

8Kidnapping: Kidnapping is an act of deliberate abduction of an individual or group of people and hold them captive until ransom is paid, or kidnapper’s demands are met. In other words, kidnapping is a criminal activities consisting of the unlawful taking and carrying away of a person, or group of persons by force to unknown location for the purpose of extortion, or to meet-up certain demands.

9Extortion: Extortion simply means the practice of collecting money or other properties from the owner by the use of force or threats. Extortion is the wrongful or illegal use of threat, force, violence or intimidation to obtain money, property or anything of value from innocent people.

10Cattle Rustling: Cattle rustling, also known as cattle raiding, it is an act of stealing live cattle, often several or many at once. In addition, cattle rustling occurs when a group of persons plan, organize and steal livestock forcefully from another person or grazing field for illegal commercial gains.

11Armed Robbery: Armed robbery is an aggravated form of theft that involves the use of weapons to perpetrate violence and intimidation against the victims. It is an act where the use or threat of force involves a firearm, an imitation firearm or an offensive weapon. Moreover, armed robbery is a form of robbery in which the robber is armed with dangerous weapon.

12Murder: Murder is the crime of deliberately killing a person without moral justification. It is an act of committing or abetting a serious crime that results in the killing of a person regardless of intent.

13Rape: Rape simply refers to an act of forcing sex upon another person without their consent or against their will. Any sex act forced by any person upon another person, or any non-consensual sex act force on or perpetrated by both the opposite sex against any person is said to be a rape.

14Stealing: Stealing simply means illegally taken ownership of something owned by someone else without owner’s permission, with intention not to return it. In other words, stealing is the act of taking another person’s property or service without the person’s permission or consent with the intent to deprive the rightful owner of it.

Theoretical Framework

15In this chapter, Social Disorganization Theory (SDT) is used to analyse the problem of Banditry in Kebbi State, Nigeria. The theory was developed based on the premise that location plays a vital role in influencing a person to commit crime. Clifford Shaw and Henry D. McKay of Chicago School of Criminology developed social disorganization theory. According to Mark (2015),3 the theory of social disorganization states person’s physical and social environments as the primarily responsible for the behavioural choices that a person makes. The core of social disorganization theory is that location matters when it comes to predicting illegal activities. According to the theory, neighbourhoods with the highest crime rates have at least three common problems, physical dilapidation, Poverty, and higher level of ethnic and culture mixing. Moreover, delinquency was not caused at the individual level, but is a normal response by normal individuals to abnormal condition. (Shaw and McKay 1942).4

16The exponents of this theory developed social disorganization theory based on four specific assumptions as outlined by Mark (2015).

1. The first assumption is the collapse of community based-based controls and people living in these disadvantaged neighbourhoods are responding naturally to environmental conditions.

2. The second is the rapid growth of immigration in urban disadvantaged neighbourhoods.

3. Third, it is business located closely to the disadvantaged neighbourhoods that are influenced by the “ecological approach” of competition and dominance.

4. The last assumption is disadvantaged urban neighbourhoods lead to the development of criminal values that replace normal society values.

17Social disorganization theory emphasizes that a person’s residential area is substantial factor outlining the likelihood that such person will become involved in criminal activities. The theory laid more emphasis on person’s location as determinant of crime commission than person’s individual characteristics such as gender, race or age.

History of Banditry in Nigeria

18One of the reasons behind banditry in Nigeria is the illegal mining activities in the northwest region of the country. The illegal mining in Niger, Kebbi, Katsina and Zamfara states has triggered violent conflicts over the control of minefields, and has led to the deaths of thousands of people. Due to the displacement caused by the conflicts, the people of the region engage in banditry as an alternative means of survival (Akinyetun 2022).5

19Anaruwa.6 gave a different version of the history. According to him, the origin of banditry in Nigeria could be associated with farmers/herders clashes, he said, when they were growing, there was nothing like banditry, apart from community thieves who steal from members of the community. He narrated further that between 1990 and 2023, Nigeria experienced unprecedented increase in population; as a result, many abandoned lands were cultivated in order to produce enough food for the people, leaving little land for grazing. Moreover, it is common attitude of some herders, if they are unable to find enough grass for their animals, as such, they allowed their animals to feed on people’s farms. Such behaviours usually provoke farmers to take aggressive actions against the herders. On the other hand, herders conceived farmer’s aggression against them as not something to tolerate, they therefore mobilized themselves to retaliate in case of any attack against their members by the farmers. Such aggressive groups formed in the name of retaliation, later metamorphosed into dangerous criminals (bandits) who are disturbing the peace of Nigerians at the moment.

20According Okoli and Ugwu (2019),7 northern region has a long history of banditry, the first recorded case occurred somewhere between western Hausa land and the Niger border in 1901, when 12,000 strong camels-train loaded with assorted grains was attack, and 210 merchants killed. Although, rural banditry is as old as Nigeria, it has nonetheless incrementally transformed overtime from its rudimentary phase, to a complex and complication pattern of criminality.

21There are different views and versions as regards to the origin of banditry in Nigeria. However, the genesis of banditry in Nigeria predates colonial era. Northern Nigeria in particular was a major destination for international trade and migration. Trans-Saharan trade was well established within Katsina, Sokoto, Kano, Borno, and others. Moreover, there was strong connectivity with the eastern part of the country and Benin empire in the south-south, the major routes utilized by these traders, tourists, merchants, caravan were occasionally stormed by bandits who robbed the travellers their belongings. During this period, traditional institutions that have the authority to enforce law and order failed woefully to secure those routes. As such, the routes remained vulnerable to bandits attack, until the arrival of colonial masters. In addition, some pre-colonial traditional rulers in the country, in a manner unbecoming of a good leader, sent their armed men to attack travellers, snatched their goods and bring it to them. These attacks led to many inter-territorial wars during pre-colonial era.

22Odinkalu8 and Stephen Ellis trace post-independence banditry in Nigeria to “shortly before the Nigerian Civil War, when there was broke down of government in some parts of Western Region. and there was blurred line between political violence, crime and organized insurgency.” At the end of the war, the military regime of Yakubu Gowon failed to manage demobilization, as demobilized combatants from the war returned home and had nothing to do. Disobedience to laws of the land become appealing in southern Nigeria, which comprises a 29 percent of Nigeria’s nearly 924,000km2 of landmass, thus, urban banditry ensued.

23The argument regarding the origin of banditry in Nigeria is enormous and endless. However one should ponder on the lingering issues that upheld the existence of banditry in Nigeria, because banditry started somewhere. The menace (banditry) is threatening peaceful co-existence of Nigerians. Therefore, the focus should be on how to eliminate banditry in the country. All hands must be on deck to eradicate this looming catastrophe in our dear country.

Banditry in Kebbi State

24Kebbi State is located in the North Western part of Nigeria. Like many states in the country, Kebbi has its share of banditry. Almost all states in Nigeria felt the negative impact of this unfortunate situation. However, the menace is more devastating in northwest geopolitical zone. Within the northwest, Zamfara, Katsina, Niger and Kebbi State are among the most hit states. Banditry is rampant in the southern part of Kebbi State. People living in that part of the state were attacked and are facing threats of attacks by bandits almost on daily basis. As mentioned earlier, Kebbi State is located in North-western Nigeria. The state shares border with Sokoto and Zamfara states in the east and north, and to the south by Niger State, while its western border forms part of the national borders with the Republic of Niger and Republic of Benin. The state was created by the military administration of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida in 1991. Based on 2006 census, the state has a population of 3,256,541, with projected population of 5,001,610 in 2019, based on population growth rate. The major ethnic groups in the state are Hausa, Fulani, Chilela (Dakarkari). Other ethnic groups are Achipawa, Dukkawa, Kambari, Kumuku, etc. The major occupations in the state are farming and fishing, Zuru people are warriors and great farmers, and they produce large quantity of agricultural produce annually for people of Kebbi and neighbouring states.

25Considering geographical location of Kebbi State, one will grasp the closeness of the state to Zamfara in terms of boundary location. It is less than 200 metres to cross border to Zamfara from Munhaye village in Danko-Wasagu Local Government of Kebbi State. Likewise, it is less than 300 metres to cross border to Niger State from Malekachi village in Danko-Wasagu Local Government of Kebbi State. The distance to Katsina State is also very close. It is well-known fact that Zamfara State is a stronghold of banditry in the northwest zone. Sharing border with Zamfara makes Kebbi State vulnerable to bandit’s attacks that usually strike from Zamfara and Niger States.

26Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area of kebbi State is the most disposed to bandits attacks in the state due to its proximity to the bandits prone states. currently the local government is devastated by frequent attacks. This is connected with the fact that the local government is a gateway to Zamfara and Niger states. Villages located within the state border with Zamfara and Niger, such as Munhaye, Dan Ummaru, Mai-Rai-Rai, Malekachi, Dankolo, Karen Bana, etc. are deserted because of banditry. Many villagers relocated to safe areas, while many were killed by bandits. It is doleful situation. Initially, those villagers produced thousand tons of grains annually. One can imagine the economic loss associated with banditry in the state. Moreover, the well-known bandit’s attack and abduction of students at Federal Government College Birnin Yauri in Kebbi State in the year 2021 is one of the attacks that exposes the vulnerability of the state to banditry.

27On 19^th June 2022, TVC News Channel,9 on its popular television programme, “Journalist Hangout” reported bandits attack that took place in Danko-Wasagu Local Government area of the state, where 19 persons died and 30 others injured. In addition, on its 7^th July 2022’s edition, THISDAY Newspaper10 reported on how communities in Kebbi State are lamenting on the frequent bandits attacks on the state. The devastating effect of banditry left many families homeless, seeking refuge in schools and other public places. National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA 2023),11 published on its website that a team of NEMA officials, visited three more local government areas of Kebbi State, affected by the menace of armed banditry. The local governments include Ngaski, Shanga, Augie and Yauri. The team observed huge humanitarian situation in these areas where thousands of people are displaced from their villages.

28According to Wikipedia.org (2021),12 an armed group attacked eight villages in Kebbi State, north-western Nigeria, killing at least 90 people. The bandits who rode motorcycles attacked Koro, Kimpi, Gaya, Dimi, Zuttu, Rafin Gara and Iguenge villages. The gunmen from neighbouring states, Niger and Zamfara, also stole cattle and destroyed crops. At the moment, victims of bandit’s attacks are in ugly and sympathetic condition in the state. The visible refugee camps in the state are filled with displaced persons, living with little social amenities. The lumbering situation of the displaced persons compelled the executive governor of the state, Dr. Nasir Idris to provide forty million naira (N40, 000,000) palliatives to the displaced persons in the state to ameliorate their suffering, as reported by Blue Print Newspaper on 20^th September 2023.13

29Another area disturbed by bandits is Kuka District in Kalgo Local Government Area of Kebbi State. Series of attacks and kidnapping have been taken place in the area for sometimes. During physical assessment of the situation in Kuka district, on 28^th April 2024, an indigene of the area who simply identified himself as Wakili,14 said that bandits are frequently disturbing the area. According to him, Kuka District is sharing boundary with Zogirma village in Bunza Local Government Area of Kebbi State. Zogirma village has a large forest where bandits used to hide. Bandits usually move into the nearby communities from the forest, kidnap people and steal their properties.

30He further narrated that villages in Kuka District, such as Kokami and Diggi are the most vulnerable to bandits attack, because they are closely sharing boundary with Kansana village of Zogirma area where the forest is located. Also, due to frequent attacks on their communities by bandits, the villagers have to mobilize themselves for protection against bandit attacks. On several occasions, the villagers confronted the bandits and stopped them from kidnapping their victims, he added. They equally arrested many suspected kidnappers and handed them over to security agents for prosecution. This voluntary confession from Wakili has confirmed the disturbing situation of banditry in the state.

31Further information gathered from Kuka District revealed that the bandits are believed to have come from the Republic of Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali and some came from Zamfara State. They gathered around the Gulma Hill that extends to the Kuka District, smaller hills and valleys that made up the unoccupied lands and spaces around the area and terrorised the people during the 2023 raining season. It took the combined efforts of the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police and volunteers from various communities known as `Yan Banga in Hausa to combat the menus of banditry in the area. 15

32The history of banditry in Kebbi State is not complete without mention of the abduction of 80 Students 80 students at the Federal Government College Birnin Yauri, Kebbi State on the 17^th June 2021. It took the effort of the parents and well to-do individuals of Kebbi State origin to secure the release of the students after they spent several months in captivity.

33The above instances and reports will leave no one in doubt about the intensity of banditry in Kebbi State. In some parts of the state, farmers cannot go to farms, many houses and shops were set ablaze, bandits killed many people in the state. More on this, frequent bandits attack forced thousands of people to flee and take refuge in schools and other refugee camps. This ugly situation pointed to the fact that except urgent steps are taken to exterminate this impending disaster, banditry will continue to consume innocent Nigerians.

Causes of Banditry in Nigeria

34At this stage, one may ask what are the causes of the banditry that led to these ugly incidences? Several factors have been adduced as the driving forces of banditry in Nigeria, especially in the north-western region of the country. Drivers of banditry in north-western Nigeria consist in some socio-existential conditions that characterise the interior as well as the frontiers of the region. Prominent among these conditions are the scarcely governed spaces, the hinterlands, forestlands, and borderlines of the region. The north-western hinterlands are marked by extremely dispersed rural settlements, separated by rangelands and farmlands that are susceptible to violent contestations (Rosenje and Adeniyi 2021, quoted Gaye)16

35Rosenje and Adeniyi added that the forestlands of north-western region are vast, rugged and hazardous. Most importantly, they are grossly under-policed to the point that makes them conducive for all forms of jungle criminality. In view of this, violent crimes, such as banditry, have festered and thrived in such forest areas. Moreover, most attacks occur in remote villages, close to the forested regions in the northwest, where there is little security presence.

36Another reason for the escalation of banditry in Nigeria is that the ratio of military and police personnel to civilian populations is grossly inadequate. According to Okwuwada (2023),17 Nigeria is a prime example of a country divided along religious and ethnic lines and some unscrupulous mentalities have taken advantage of this division to cause mayhem with religion and injustice as a veil to hide their atrocious behaviours. The level of suspicion amongst the tribes that form the Federal Republic of Nigeria is both alarming and unprecedented, this has fuel tension and violence across the country. John, et al (2023)18 categorized causes of banditry into three forms:

1. Background causes of existing conditions, which include poverty, ungoverned spaces, fragile security and weak border management.

2. The immediate causes or triggers, which include climate change, resource competition, informal security, Jungle Justice, ethno-communal factors, religion intolerance, resource curse, criminality and drug abuse.

3. Crisis enablers, which include state complicity, foreign powers, traditional rulers, weapon suppliers, food suppliers, informants and bandit’s negotiators.

37These have fuelled the recent trend of armed banditry, which remains the most prevalent threat to Nigeria’s national security.

38Poverty is one of the major causes of banditry in Nigeria, most especially in northern Nigeria. Apart from exploring the poverty statistics provided by various rating agencies, physical observations will leave no one in doubt about the level of poverty in north-western Nigeria. Lack of basic amenities such as access roads, healthcare, education, clean water, etc. are visible in most communities of the northwest. The Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) of National Bureau of Statistics (NBS 2022)19 pointed out that sixty five percent of multi-dimensionally poor people live in northern Nigeria. A significant portion of this poor population are deprived of clean water, cooking fuel, adequate sanitation and access to health care.

39Furthermore, according to National Bureau of Statistic (NBS 2022), seven out of ten Nigerians living in the rural areas are multi-dimensionally poor, and poverty is higher in rural areas where these attacks take place. The report further stated that seventy two percent of people living in rural areas in Nigeria are poor. In his contribution about the causes of armed banditry in Nigeria, Nahuche (2022)20 asserted that banditry has been linked to several causes among which are: displacement due to wars in Nigeria’s bordering countries, lack of basic amenities, unemployment among youths, moral decadence among the youths and other members of the affected communities.

40A reporter with Premium Times, Ibrahim Adeyemi21 reported on 4^th April 2022, that the Centre of Democracy and Development for West Africa (CDD) identified the key actors and drivers of the violent crime that has killed over 12,000 and displaced over one million persons in the region. In the report, CDD dispels reports that the violent entrepreneurs are sponsored by the Northeast’s Boko Haram insurgents, aggrieved politicians, the Fulani ultranationalists, or foreign powers. The report linked the crisis to overlapping economic, political and social problems. Again, the CDD report pointed that corruption and ineptitude among the police and Judicial officials were identified as a reasons for taking up arms by the bandits.

41Equally, highhandedness of security operatives is a factor contributing to the violent crime, leading to an endemic killing spree and bloodshed. The report quoted a repentant bandit who disclosed that his father spent seven years chasing Justice for his rustled cows, detailing how Justice was not achieved until his father died, hence, his decision to take up arms for revenge. In addition, extrajudicial killing of innocent Fulani kinsmen by local self-defence security outfit, known as Yan-Sa-kai compelled Fulani militants revolting against being targets of ethnic cleansing orchestrated attacks against members of Yan-Sa-kai, the report elaborated.

42Moreover, land use disputes between farmers and herders, leading to inter-communal clashes between the two parties is equally driving banditry and terrorism in the region. Violence crimes influenced by overwhelming poverty in the north-western states were also identified as a driver and one of the root causes of banditry in region. Hapsat and Rabiu (2022)22 attributed banditry and menace of cattle rustling to ungoverned space which serves as hideouts for the criminals, weak security system, porosity of the borders and arms proliferation. Agunyai, et al (2022)23 argued that the root causes of banditry and insecurity in Nigeria are unemployment, poverty, corruption, and the proliferation of arms.

43An astonishing face-to-face discussion with a retired police officer CSP Bitrus Gomo (Retired)24 on 16^th October 2023, displayed pressing issues related to the causes of banditry in Nigeria. Bitrus asserted that with the level of corruption in Judiciary, it would be a “tale by moonlight” for someone to anticipate end of banditry in the near future. He added that on several occasions, his team arrested bandits and charged them to court after establishing evidences against them. But they (bandits) were released by corrupt judges after collecting gratification, as alleged. Those released bandits will continue with their contemptuous act of harming innocent Nigerians, knowing fully that they would be released whenever arrested by security personnel. According to Bitrus, the awkward attitudes of some corrupt judicial officials discourage security personnel from redoubling their effort in fighting banditry in the country.

44Again, an important point to note concerning the escalation of banditry in Nigeria is that the security personnel saddled with the responsibility of fighting banditry are not well-equipped. In many instances, these criminals hold more sophisticated weapons than conventional security personnel. Sadly, in most of their encounters, security personnel recorded more casualties than the criminals. On 21^st November 2023, Crime Channels News25 (online edition) quoted Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun lamenting inadequate man-power and lack of operational facilities for the police. The IGP who was speaking on the floor of the House of Representatives while participating in the sectorial debate, opened up that Nigerians shouldn’t be expecting an effective performance from the police force because the force has been virtually abandoned and left ruined, with ill-motivated personnel for many years. Moreover, the IGP added that some police stations have no single operational vehicle to carry-out their routine duties. Moreover, on 15^th July 2020, Premium Times26 reported that a former commander of Operation Lafiya Dole in Nigerian Army, Major General Olusegun Adeniyi appeared in a video complaining about poor equipment after attack by Boko Haram terrorists left dozens of soldiers dead.

45Equally, on 21^st November 2023, Daily Post News27 reported that the Chief of Defence Staff Christopher Musa blamed the judiciary for releasing arrested criminals after being arrested by security personnel. The Chief of Defence Staff made the blame on the floor of national assembly while participating in sectorial debate. He equally blamed the judiciary for putting the lives of security personnel and their family members at risk by releasing criminals that would later hunt for those security personnel who arrested them.

46Critical analysis of the scholar’s views about the causes of banditry in Nigeria will compel someone to strongly outline factors such as abject poverty, ungoverned spaces, unemployment, youth restiveness, corruption, poor leadership style, frequent herders-farmers clashes, high level of illiteracy, unchecked arms proliferations, moral decadence, poor parental upbringing, injustice and lack of political will to end banditry, corruption etc. as major causes of banditry in Nigeria.

47A point to note is the way traditional leaders are honouring celebrated bandits with chieftaincy title. As widely transmitted in 2022, The Punch Newspaper28 reported that the district head of Sabon Birnin Yandoto in Zamfara State, Alhaji Aliyu Marafa conferred the traditional title of Sarkin Fulani on a repentant bandit kingpin Adamu Aleru. The conferment attracted condemnation across the nation, under normal circumstances, chieftaincy title should be conferred on personalities based on their selfless service to humanity. But, in a situation where a repentant bandit is given chieftaincy title, it is directly or indirectly encouraging other people to engage in banditry.

48Moreover, bandit`s informants have contributed immensely on the escalation of banditry in Kebbi State and the country at large. It is an unfortunate situation, informants are responsible for kidnapping and killing of many innocent Nigerians, without informants, bandits will find it difficult to operate. While trying to describe the clumsy nature of bandit’s informants, Ibrahim (2021)29 asserted that they (informants) dine and wine with people, they are sons of the soil, yet they sell out their own people to Boko Haram terrorists and marauding bandits. When they are caught, they are called “informants” but they are really collaborators and accomplices of the armed groups.

Effects of Banditry

49There are many negative consequences for banditry. It poses a serious security threat, not only to the northwest region but to Nigeria at large. The level at which bandits operate within the landscape of Nigeria’s northwest and Kebbi State in particular has led to spree of kidnapping, maiming of people, loss of lives, population displacement, loss of cattle, disruption of socioeconomic activities in general, and equally brought about an atmosphere of uncertainty (Musharafa and Oluwatobi 2022).30

50Odalonu (2023)31 stated that banditry has led to the displacement of residents, payment of huge ransoms, abandonment of means of livelihood, shortage of food, and has triggered an adverse socioeconomic crisis for the people. According to Uche and Okwukwe (2023),32 banditry and kidnapping activities have a significant negative effect on educational activities in north-central Nigeria and educational activities have a very low tolerance for banditry and kidnapping activities.

51Further, John, et al (2022)33 noted that bandit attacks in the north-west have resulted in the deaths of many civilians, especially in the rural communities of which cases are largely underreported by the government media and security agencies. According to them armed bandits killed eight thousand three hundred (8,300) people, including seven in Jigawa, one thousand nine hundred and seventeen in Kaduna, one thousand four hundred and sixteen in Katsina, two hundred and two people were killed in Kebbi, six hundred and forty four in Sokoto, and four thousand one hundred and fourteen in Zamfara, between January 2013 and March 2022.

52Another consequence of banditry in Nigeria is increased in poverty and inflation rate, according to report by National Bureau of Statistics34 in September 2023, the headline inflation rate increased to 26.72%, relative to August 2023 head line inflation rate which was 25.80%. Furthermore, on the average, four out of ten individuals in Nigeria have real per capita expenditure below 137,430 Naira per year. This translates to over 82.9 million Nigerians who are considered poor by national standard.

53Another pressing issue is the consequence of banditry on food security in the country. According to Samson (2023), food security has been a global concern over the years, the situation become the worst in Nigeria due to high level of insecurity, incessant killing of farmers by herders, and uprising activities of bandits in the country. Yusuf and Abdulrahman (2021)35 added that the menace of banditry does not only pose a threat to national security but also threatens the prospects for food security in the country, as it prevents both crop farming and cattle rearing activities. The unprecedented rise in banditry has displaced farming communities and decreased food production.

54Another sector that is badly hit by banditry is education, the incessant kidnapping of students across the country inflicted fear in the minds of both parents and students. In some crime prone areas, parents are afraid to enrol their wards in schools due to fear of the unknown. Frequent attacks and abductions of students and their staff in educational institutions across the country are disturbing. Henry and EJike (2023)36 postulated that roughly, 1,591 school-children have been kidnapped in Nigeria since 2015, when terrorists first abducted 276 students from Chibok, Borno State. More than 276 members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) were kidnapped by bandits between from 2014 and October 2023.

55According to Ajayi (2015),37 no development can be achieved in any nation characterized by conflicts and war. Insecurity and national development are like twins because they are inseparable concepts that affect each other. Peace and Gladys (2022)38 asserted that the increasing insecurity situation is now in a state where kidnapping has become the norm, destruction of lives and property has become daily reoccurrence, affecting all efforts to achieve sustainable development in Nigeria.

56As mentioned earlier, while discussing the effect of banditry in Nigeria, Anaruwa (2023) stated that he was once kidnapped in his farm at the outskirts of his village; unspecified amount of money was paid before his released. Compassionately, he narrated how he abandoned some of his farms due to their vulnerability to bandit`s attack. Anaruwa further stated that before 2018, he produced over fifty tons of grains every year. But with the unprecedented increase of banditry in the area, at the moment, he hardly produce ten tons of grains in a year.

57In addition, before the disturbing activities of bandits in Kebbi State, Zuru Emirate produced over fifty percent of agricultural produce of the state. Farmers in Zuru supplied grains to neighbouring states, such as Sokoto and Zamfara. However, as a result of banditry, they have resolved to subsistence farming, where they produce for their personal consumption only. Sometimes, what they produce is far from being enough to feed their families, Anaruwa added.

Strategies for Eliminating Banditry

58According to Chukwuma and Anthony (2019),39 to tackle the menace of banditry, there must be conscientious effort at policing the gamut of forested landscapes of the region, regulation of trans-border activities at the frontiers, harnessing the transhumance and mining sectors of the region, and controlling the spate of arms proliferation in the prone areas. The scholars equally emphasize on the need to undo the extant drivers and contours of rural banditry in the northwest through an adroit security strategy that prioritizes proper territorial governance. In addition, this strategy must recognize and prioritize the need to systematically unravel and negate the entirety of socio-structural and existential factors that drive and sustain the occurrence. This is in line with theoretical framework earlier discussed in a section of this research.

59It is unfortunate that criminals have taken arms against innocent Nigerians in form of banditry. The activities of these criminals (bandits) are threatening the corporate existence of Nigeria as a country. In his bid to provide way forward to this ungainly situation, Okoro (2021)40 itemized four strategies to be adopted in order to end banditry in the nation as follows:

1. The Federal Government of Nigeria needs to investigate and unveil the identities of these bandits for easy prosecution.

2. The Federal Government must ensure that the law enforcement agencies as well as the Judiciary are equipped and made fervent in tackling the menace of banditry with a view to ensuring the maintenance of Nigeria’s national security.

3. Ungoverned spaces across the country (borderlands, forests, and regions, etc.) should be made governed through the use of ICT for law enforcement agencies to monitor activities in and around them.

4. Monitoring of border activities by various security and border agencies should be intensified so as to contain the vast illicit proliferation of various calibres of arms and ammunitions into the country with a view to enhancing the security of the nation.

60In order to squarely deal with the menace of banditry in Nigeria, Rosenje and Adeniyi (2020)41 recommended the following:

1. Nigerian government should strategize to create meaningful employment for the youth trapped in the phenomenon, through the creation of programmes which aim at addressing the endemic poverty in the northwest in particular and country in general.

2. Nigerian government should sustain the military efforts in prosecuting the war against banditry, as well as equip the security forces with both types of modern equipment and necessary incentives to enable them carry out their duty without hindrances.

3. There should be re-orientation to include ethical values and reverence for life and human rights in people’s mind, and also the need to co-exist irrespective of religious or ethnic inclinations.

4. Government at all levels should put in place functional security system, like community policing to supplement the operations of other security agencies, as well as the need for proper orientation of the Nigerian security personnel on the need to maintain and advance collaboration with local vigilante.

5. There should be adequate supply of installations of modern technology based and gadgets, as well as increase surveillance. Border security personnel are required to urgently check trans-border crimes, which are part of the igniting factors accentuating banditry in Nigeria.

61Debo and Temilade (2022)42 advocated for the use of mercenaries to end banditry in Nigeria, the two scholars asserted that the use of mercenaries in hostile situation is an activity that is as old as war itself. They further gave an account of the successes of mercenaries in conflict situations all over the world including places like Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo and Syria. According Chukwuma (2019),43 to end banditry, there is no more effective solution than forceful inland and frontier policing, such policing must deal with the region’s peculiar circumstances of diverse borderlines, forestlands and hinterlands. This requires a tactical synergy between grassroots vigilantes and the state security operatives. Chukwuma faulted the federal government’s current counter banditry effort, based on military reconnaissance and raids. Such action according to Chukuma failed to bring about the needed respite, owing largely to the operational challenges arising from insufficient knowledge of the terrain. However, security operatives saddled with responsibilities of fighting crime must be properly trained, equipped and supervised.

62In their contribution on how to end banditry in Nigeria, Tahir and Usman (2021)44 recommended the following:

1. The government should improve its infrastructure, education system, power and communication sectors, and create more employment to the teaming unemployed youth.

2. There is need to enhance effectiveness of security operatives through training and retraining of officers.

3. The three arms of government should be allowed to efficiently perform their functions without undue influence.

4. Government needs to be proactive in resolving security issues and threats by modern methods of intelligence gathering and sharing, preparation, logistics, encouragement and the implementation of advanced technology to address security challenges.

63On 9^th December 2023, Trust Radio45 quoted a Kaduna-based security expert, Group Captain Sadeeq Garba Shehu (Rtd), saying that the government needed to put in more resources to increase the human capacity of the military and provide equipment and training as a way of ending banditry in the country. He further asserted that Nigeria is not spending enough on its security, whether it is for the military, police or even for intelligence services.

64There are divergent views and opinions on how to end banditry in Nigeria. Those views and opinions are paramount as regard to ending banditry in the country. What we need at this point is vital synergy between security agencies in the country, they (security agencies) must work together to achieve success in the fight against banditry. Likewise, if banditry can finally become a thing of the past, sanity must be restored to our criminal justice system. The level of alleged corruption in judiciary must be checked, arrested criminals must be punished according to the law. In addition, security at the borders must be strengthen. Considering our porous borders, there is need to mount surveillance cameras at our various borders to monitor the movement of bandits in and out of the country.

65Most importantly, Nigerians should acknowledged the fact that they have serious problem in their hands that requires urgent attention from everyone. The task of tackling insecurity is a collective responsibility which must not be left to the security agencies and government alone. All hands must be on deck in this task of ending banditry in our dear country. Once again, it is worthy to note that all the banditry elimination strategies mentioned, if well implemented will solve the problem of banditry in Kebbi State, northwest and Nigeria as a whole.

Conclusion

66Banditry is the gravest security threat that Nigeria is battling with, and it is a serious crime that poses a security challenge to the nation’s delicate democracy. Activities of bandits inflicted persistent fear to Nigerians. The situation is devastating; to the extent that no one can predict what will happen in the next hour. People’s lives and properties are not guaranteed, the country is in situation of emergency that needs urgent attention to address it, otherwise banditry will spare no one in Nigeria. At the moment, farmers cannot go to farm, many villages are disserted, and people cannot travel by road in many parts of the country. It is popular conviction that no nation makes serious progress when its citizens live in extreme fear.

67As highlighted in this chapter, many scholars outlined the causes of banditry, its negative effect on nation’s economic, political and educational development. Equally, recommendations were made on various strategies to be adopted by the authority concerned to find lasting solution to the menace of banditry in Nigeria. It is left for the government and all stake holders to do the needful. As clearly pointed out, the issue of security should not be left for the security agencies alone. In their own ways, all citizens must play remarkable role on this urgent task of eradicating the menace of banditry in Nigeria.

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