Banditry: More than Spoken Words

“It gets tough before it gets better” is a famous phrase describing a situation where a series of unfortunate events are followed by eternal bliss. In most of the Northwest region that has now become the epicentre of raging banditry, Nigeria’s Defense Headquarters (DHQ), on Thursday, 26th November 2020 declared that the menace of banditry and insurgency would end soon, given the step-up in kinetic and non-kinetic operations. This optimism comes at a time numerous reports of bandits’ attacks majorly in communities across the northwest region abound. For instance, Nigeria Police on Thursday, 26th November, confirmed the attack of a community in Sokoto State by bandits. Words are unnecessary when action is needed. An article Political Rhetorics and Counterterrorism suggests that focus should be on engagements rather than on mere rhetorics.

How worse will it get before it gets better? The declaration of the DHQ seems not to be in touch with reality when juxtaposed with news reports on banditry. While words of encouragement and show of confidence may be useful, actions bring better results. Many residents in the hotspot areas may find the declaration confusing as it suggests that the attacks are on a dwindling trend. There is a thin line between optimism and denial. Hence, the Nigerian forces must focus on actions in ending the horrific banditry in the northwest region.

Much more than words, government can tackle the security emergency through a regional framework just like the Amotekun regional security structure in the Southwest zone. Banditry is mostly a dominant security issue prevalent in the Northwest. News and anecdotal accounts suggest inter-state movements and operations of bandits. The porous and unregulated borders within the affected states have made it easy for bandits to move about at ease. A regional security structure will be strategic in ridding the zone off bandits.

At the state level, state governments must commission research that will objectively look into internal schisms and structural weaknesses that are fueling the ongoing violence. As the violence continues, people are increasingly forming group militias to survive. Such proliferation of revenge-defence-driven informal security would exacerbate hostilities and undermine efforts of security agencies at containing violence. Words may temporarily sway or comfort victims and vulnerable people, but it takes results from committed actions to end their plight.