The Confession

Most armed conflicts are driven by inequitable economic policies, repressive political regimes, and harassments by state actors. Inasmuch as violence cannot be excused, there are certain causative factors that tend to give some level of exoneration on perpetrators. Grievance in many instances has initially fueled armed conflicts in Nigeria leading to sustained wars between the Nigerian state and armed groups as was the case with the Niger Delta militants and to some extent the Boko Haram insurgents.

Nigeria’s North-West Zone has witnessed an upsurge in armed bandits’ attacks, particularly in Zamfara State, leading to its inglorious epithet as Bandits’ Abattoir – where wanton infliction of injuries on non-combatants, gruesome murder of persons, and excessive destruction of investments have been the order of the day. In the light of the overwhelming impact of banditry in the state, the governor of Zamfara State extended a peace deal encapsulated in an amnesty programme for willing and repentant bandits who surrendered their weapons. So far, there have been series of media reports on the increasing number of repentant bandits and concomitant decline in levels of violence. Today in Zamfara, repentant bandits revealed that they were driven to a life of criminal violence by excessive police and vigilante harassment and brutality as well as government neglect.

While there is no justification for criminal violence, grievance-driven crimes are steadily on the increase in Nigeria. Recent clashes between Shia protesters and security personnel were largely fueled by this variable. Also, yesterday’s ‘Revolution Now‘ protests in parts of the country were also allegedly driven by mass discontent and frustration over failed political promises. Even the Boko haram insurgency in the North-East was largely triggered by the extra-judicial murder of Mohammed Yusuf in 2009 – the founder of the sect. In the same vein, violent militancy in the oil-rich Niger Delta was caused by the perceived neglect and marginalization of the region by government and oil companies operating in there. Oil has been exploited in the region with little or no consideration to human lives and environment. This ‘disaster capitalism’ aggrieved the initial set of militants and drove them to rebellion. However, in the course of time, greed overtook their grievance.

Importantly, how can the Nigerian state mitigate the level of grievance-driven crimes given the case of repentant bandits in Zamfara State? What lessons can be learnt from the confessions of the bandits? Obviously, social injustice is a major factor engendering conflicts in most societies. Whether deliberately or unintentionally done by government, injustice creates a sense of marginalization and abandonment on the part of groups leading to frustration and violent retaliation at the slightest provocation.

Flowing from the above, governments at all levels have to commit to good governance, social justice and appreciable degree of public welfare to reduce the huge gap between the rich and the poor. There should also be reliable machinery for expressing grievances for prompt management to avoid escalation. Governments should be alive to early warning signals and proactive measures of conflict de-escalation. More bridges should be built across ethno-religious divides rather than breaking down existing ones. The gains in Nigeria’s diversity far outweigh the challenges if they are properly harnessed. With the right policies, governments can prevent crimes that are induced by grievance and promote durable peace for all.