Ex-COAS: Bandits now running towns, collecting taxes in Northern Nigeria

Former Minister of Interior Lt Gen Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (rtd) has raised alarm over the escalating insecurity in Northern Nigeria, warning that some communities are now under the control of bandits and insurgents who impose taxes and enforce their own rules.

Speaking on Monday at the First Media and Security Summit in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, themed ‘Existential Threats and National Security’, the retired Chief of Army Staff said insecurity in the region has persisted for over two decades, with attacks spanning Katsina, Borno, Zamfara, and Kano, including mosque killings, herder-farmer clashes, terrorism, and banditry.

“We have reached a stage where bandits and insurgents control certain communities, taxing and making laws for the people.

“Thousands have been killed, millions displaced, farms lost, and cattle rustled,” Dambazau said.

He urged northern governors to establish Ministries of Mineral Resources, harness local resources, boost revenue, and reduce poverty to curb insecurity.

He also emphasized reviving traditional institutions, improving agriculture, addressing out-of-school children, and promoting social inclusion.

Dambazau added that over 70% of those affected by poverty linked to insecurity are from the North, with religious extremism fueling violence by groups such as Boko Haram, Lakurawa terrorists, and bandits.

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, also stressed that security is everyone’s responsibility, calling for dialogue and collaborative action to restore peace.

Governors Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa and Nasir Idris of Kebbi said the summit would examine the root causes of insecurity, including climate change, and explore sustainable solutions for the region.