Bandits Now Make Laws in Northern Nigeria, Not Just Kill – Dambazau Warns
Former Minister of Interior and retired Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau, has warned that insecurity in Northern Nigeria has deteriorated to the point where bandits and insurgents now control some communities, impose taxes and enforce their own laws.
Naija News reports that Dambazau made the disclosure on Monday while speaking at the First Media and Security Summit held in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State.
The conference, themed “Existential Threats and National Security,” brought together security experts, governors, traditional rulers and policymakers.
He said the crisis, which has lasted for more than 20 years, has continued to mutate into deadlier forms. The retired general painted a grim picture of the region’s security reality.
According to him: “People were killed in Katsina, Borno, Zamfara and Kano mosques. The North has suffered from herders/farmers clash, terrorism and banditry.
“We have gotten to a situation where bandits and insurgents have taken some of our communities, taxing and making laws for them.”
Dambazau said thousands of lives have been lost, millions displaced, and countless families shattered by the prolonged violence.
He lamented the rising number of widows and orphans, the destruction of farmlands and the rustling of livestock without decisive action from authorities.
“Thousands have been killed and millions displaced. The number of widows and orphans has increased, and farmers have lost farms and herders’ cattle rustled without action from state actors,” the former Minister stated.
Dambazau urged northern state governments to restructure their governance and economic systems to tackle the crisis.
He called for the creation of a Ministry of Mineral Resources across northern states to harness the region’s vast natural deposits and reduce dependence on federal allocation.
The former Minister stressed that boosting local revenue is key to fighting poverty – one of the root causes of insecurity.
He also suggested restoring the authority of traditional rulers, addressing the out-of-school children crisis, revitalising agriculture, and pursuing genuine social inclusion.
Dambazau noted that more than 70 per cent of Nigerians currently trapped in poverty as a result of insecurity are from the northern region.
“Religious extremism is a major threat to security in northern Nigeria and has led groups like Boko Haram, Lakurawa terrorists and bandits to unleash violence on the people,” he warned.
Speaking earlier, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, said solving insecurity requires collective effort and honest dialogue.
“Security is everybody’s responsibility. We need to come together to talk with each other on how to solve this problem,” he said.
The Sultan said Nigeria was not always in its current state of turmoil and insisted that unity, understanding and implementation of agreed solutions remain the key to restoring peace.
“We were not like this before, Nigeria was not what it is today. We can solve the problem by coming together and having understanding, and going ahead to implement the decision we reached to have peace,” he added.
In his remark, Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule echoed the same concerns, saying northern leaders must jointly address the causes of insecurity rather than merely responding to attacks.
He said: “Insecurity in the North West is worrisome. The summit should look at the root cause of it. It may be due to climate change and other issues.”
Also speaking, Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, said the summit provides a crucial opportunity to examine the region’s mounting security challenges and proffer workable solutions.
He noted that northern leaders must align on a common front if lasting peace is to be restored.