Banditry

By Uzair Adam

At least 23 suspected bandits were neutralised in a coordinated military operation after armed groups launched attacks on Shanono and Tsanyawa local government areas of Kano State between the night of January 1 and the early hours of January 2, 2026, according to the Nigerian Army.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 3 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Major Babatunde Zubairu, who said the operation involved joint task force troops on the ground and the Air Component of Operation FANSAN YAMMA.

According to the statement, troops successfully contained the attacks in Kano. They inflicted heavy casualties on the assailants before tracking the fleeing bandits to Karaduwa village in Matazu Local Government Area of neighbouring Katsina State. 

Acting on credible intelligence, the Air Component pursued the group as they attempted to regroup after escaping Kano.

The Army said intelligence reports revealed that the bandits were in the process of burying some of their members killed during the initial clashes when they were located at Dan Marke in Matazu LGA. 

Air Component Sector 2 of Operation FANSAN YAMMA reportedly trailed their movement until several motorcycles converged after crossing a dry riverbed.

“A precision airstrike was immediately launched,” the statement said, noting that the operation was supported by aerial Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance missions. 

The strike, according to the Army, resulted in the neutralisation of at least 23 terrorists, while several others were believed to have sustained injuries. 

It also damaged the group’s weapons and other equipment.

Reacting to the operation’s outcome, the Commander of 3 Brigade, Nigerian Army, commended both the air and ground troops for their exceptional courage. 

“Their bravery and resilience in the face of adversity are commendable,” he said.

The Army added that the security situation in Kano State remains calm, with troops sustaining robust patrols and close monitoring of flashpoints. 

It stated that troop morale and operational efficiency remain “very satisfactory.”

The Nigerian Army also appealed to the public to continue supporting security agencies by providing timely and credible information.

Such cooperation, it said, would further aid efforts to disrupt banditry and other terrorist activities.

Major Zubairu stressed that troops, working alongside other security agencies, remain committed to safeguarding lives and property nationwide and will continue to take all necessary measures to ensure national security.

By Uzair Adam

Kidnappers operating across Nigeria collected at least N2.57 billion in ransom payments between July 2024 and June 2025, according to a new report released by SBM Intelligence.

The report, titled “The Year Ahead at an Inflection Point” and published on December 19, 2025, examined key political and economic trends shaping Africa in 2025. It revealed that while kidnappers demanded an estimated N48 billion within the 12-month period, only a small fraction of that amount was eventually paid by victims and their families.

SBM Intelligence noted that kidnapping in Nigeria has increasingly become a well-organised, profit-oriented enterprise, flourishing amid weak governance structures, expansive ungoverned rural areas and deteriorating security conditions in several regions of the country.

According to the findings, at least 4,722 people were abducted in 997 kidnapping incidents during the period under review, while no fewer than 762 people lost their lives in attacks linked to banditry and related criminal violence.

Although ransom demands rose sharply in naira terms, the report observed that the actual earnings of kidnappers remained relatively modest when converted to dollars due to the depreciation of the naira. The N2.57 billion paid translates to approximately $1.66 million, only slightly higher than the $1.13 million equivalent of N653.7 million collected in 2022.

The Northwest emerged as the epicentre of kidnapping activities, accounting for 425 incidents, representing 42.6 per cent of cases nationwide. The region also recorded 2,938 victims, amounting to 62.2 per cent of all abducted persons across the country.

Zamfara State recorded the highest number of victims at 1,203, followed by Kaduna and Katsina States. SBM Intelligence attributed the prevalence of kidnappings in the region to vast, poorly governed rural communities and the presence of entrenched bandit networks capable of carrying out large-scale operations with minimal resistance.

In contrast, the Southwest recorded the lowest level of kidnapping activity, accounting for just 5.3 per cent of incidents and 3 per cent of victims during the same period.

The report further highlighted a rise in mass abductions, defined as incidents involving more than five victims, which accounted for about 23 per cent of all recorded cases and were largely concentrated in northern states. It noted that entire communities were sometimes targeted, with abducted persons reportedly forced to work on farms and mining sites controlled by criminal groups.

Beyond kidnapping, SBM Intelligence drew attention to escalating violence across several parts of the country in 2025. In the Northcentral region, attacks linked to armed herders persisted through March, with Benue State particularly affected. A single attack in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area on March 7 reportedly claimed 15 lives.

Zamfara State also experienced repeated deadly incidents, including an attack in Tsafe Local Government Area on March 13 that left 40 people dead, alongside mass abductions in Maru Local Government Area on the same day.

April and May were identified as some of the deadliest months of the year, with attacks in Plateau and Benue States killing more than 100 people combined, while mass abductions involving up to 100 victims were recorded in Zamfara, Katsina, Kebbi and Sokoto States.

By Anas Abbas

Families in Tsanyawa Local Government Area of Kano State are in a race against time after bandits threatened to kill ten abducted residents unless a ransom is paid.

The situation was brought to light by the father of one of the victims, who spoke to a local radio station on Sunday.

He revealed that the kidnappers have designated him as their messenger, using him to relay their demands to the other affected families.

“They call me three or even four times daily, warning me to abide by their requests or they would kill our family members,” the distraught father stated.

He expressed the families’ helplessness in the face of the enormous sum demanded, telling the bandits, “We have never seen that kind of money. All we have are our farmlands and a few small animals.”

The man begged Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, for immediate intervention.

“We ask you, our Governor, in the name of God, please help us. They are killing our sons,” he lamented, fearing that time is running out to save the victims.

Kano State Police Command has not issued an official statement regarding this specific threat.

The incident has heightened fears of worsening insecurity in the state’s rural communities.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Troops from the 12 Brigade of the Nigerian Army have rescued two kidnapped victims and recovered a ransom of N3.8 million in Kogi State.

The rescue mission was launched on November 2, 2025, following credible intelligence about kidnapping activities along the Itobe–Adumu–Ejule road.

Reports indicated that relatives of the victims were attempting to deliver a ransom for their release.

Acting swiftly, troops from the Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Oguma patrolled towards Achigili Forest to intercept the criminals.

En route, the soldiers were ambushed and came under fire from the bandits.A fierce gun battle ensued, during which the troops overpowered the kidnappers with superior firepower.

The bandits were forced to flee into the forest with gunshot wounds, abandoning their two captives and the ransom money.

The rescued victims were immediately taken to a secure military location for debriefing.

In a significant move, the recovered sum of Three Million, Eight Hundred Thousand Naira (₦3,800,000) was returned to them.

The Nigerian Army, in a statement by Lieutenant Hassan Abdullahi, reiterated its resolve to protect lives and property in the state.

The public was also urged to continue providing timely information to support security agencies in the fight against crime.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

A large group of armed bandits attacked a private hospital in Kujama, Kaduna State, abducting a medical doctor, five patients, and a security guard.

The assailants targeted the Nasara Nursing and Maternity Home in the early hours of Tuesday. According to local sources, the attackers also raided houses in the vicinity during the operation.

One security guard was shot multiple times after attempting to resist the invaders.

He was later transported to a different medical facility for emergency care.

This incident is the latest in a series of violent attacks in the region, coming just days after bandits killed two police officers during an assault on a police headquarters in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area.

By Muhammad Isyaku Malumfashi

What is happening in Katsina under the present APC administration is a shameful outcome from a government that once boasted of being widely read, widely travelled, and experienced. In fact, from the campaign period to its first year in office, the government bragged that it had all it took to make Katsina a “new Dubai.” That was why a high educational background was used as a symbol of the administration. Even in appointments, only so-called “learned” people were considered, irrespective of whether they were truly experienced or trustworthy.

The most pressing challenge of this government is denial. This denial is even more dangerous than the insecurity bedevilling the state. When you acknowledge the existence of a problem, you will be open to every advice on how to tackle it. But if you keep denying or boasting that you have eliminated it. At the same time, the menace still exists—and perhaps in a more deadly form than during the previous administration—then no matter the energy you invest, you will not succeed. The government and its loyalists continue to deny the bold existence of Fulani terror groups in the state.

Before the recent banditry attack on Muslim worshippers during dawn prayers at Mantau town in Karfi Ward, Malumfashi Local Government—which drew attention from outsiders to what we have long been saying about the APC government’s ill-conceived security surveillance approach—there had already been several incidents of bloodshed, property destruction, and abductions across about nine local governments daily. In places like Malumfashi, where I come from, the banditry menace has worsened since Governor  Dikko Radda assumed office.

The government’s approaches to fighting terror are either ill-planned or manipulated by vested interests, gambling with people’s lives and properties. If we are to judge by the capacity and fanfare displayed by the governor in the past two years—boasting about his readiness and zeal to wipe out criminals from their hideouts—then this government has no excuse for failing. By now, Dr Dikko Umaru Radda himself must have realised that governance, especially in a state with millions of residents, is hectic and demanding. It is unlike how he portrayed it during his campaign. Thus, Katsina is bigger than Charanchi, and the State Government House Office is not an ordinary SMEDAN office.

Notwithstanding, I read with dismay some comments by APC loyalists denying the existence of rampant banditry. According to them, the present government has curbed it. But I was gladdened by how people tackled them in the comment sections, pointing to multiple banditry incidents under this government—incidents worse than anything seen before.

Meanwhile, I do not waste my energy trying to rebut these “data boys” because I know they are either sponsored to promote the government and whitewash its failures, or they do it voluntarily to secure appointments. That is why I stopped engaging in the comment section of my friend Hamis Nababa whenever he appears on air defending the government, because I know he has a personal target. Let alone the unfortunate lawmakers or appointees like Surajo Abdu Kwaskwaro, representing Kaita, who went on air denying the recurrence of bandit attacks in Katsina.

When people are desperate for food, not everyone can remain true to their conscience. Hunger is a terrible thing; it pushes some people to compromise their integrity. But one should not put one’s reputation at stake simply for survival. This is where business security matters—because if those “data boys” were truly independent or well-established in their own ventures, they would not be engaging in such disgraceful acts of defending a failed government whose shortcomings are already too glaring.

One doesn’t even need to doubt whether Governor Dikko is a Grade II certificate holder or truly a PhD holder. Just look at how his government executes projects and the questionable funds allegedly spent on them. Even when figures appear clear on paper, the blunders make them impossible to explain convincingly. At the end of the day, there is nothing tangible to show.

As many have opined, the only candidate that will be extremely difficult to sell in 2027 is that of the APC. If you doubt this, let us wait for time to tell. Those bragging that APC will still win should remember: unless the ruling party uses force, manipulative tactics, vote-buying, intimidation, or pre-stuffed ballot papers, it will be unseated before noon on Election Day if the election is free and fair. Mark my words—because no sane person can campaign for APC in its present state without appearing utterly ridiculous.

Muhammad Isyaku Malumfashi wrote via muhammadisyakumalumfashi@gmail.com.

By Zayyad I. Muhammad

The insecurity challenges in Nigeria, particularly banditry, have defied simplistic solutions. While the kinetic approach, military and law enforcement operations, has achieved some notable successes, it has not produced the outcome of sustainable peace. Instead, it has often fueled a cycle of violence between state and non-state actors, while local communities continue to suffer. To break this cycle, there is a compelling need to complement kinetic measures with non-kinetic strategies such as dialogue, community engagement, education, intelligence-driven peacebuilding, and socio-economic empowerment.

The kinetic approach is necessary but insufficient. It weakens the operational strength of criminal groups but fails to address the root causes of insecurity, such as poverty, unemployment, social injustice, and a lack of community trust in the government. In some cases, heavy-handed operations or operational errors can create resentment among local populations, inadvertently attracting recruits to criminal networks.

The non-kinetic measures are designed to fill the gaps left by the actions of military and security forces, as well as to reduce unnecessary pressures on security forces. These include: building trust through dialogue with traditional rulers, religious leaders, and local influencers, including the actors themselves; creating opportunities for youth through education, vocational training, and employment; rehabilitation and reintegration, including providing pathways for repentant bandits or militants to rejoin society; intelligence gathering and strengthening human intelligence networks within communities to prevent attacks before they occur.

In combating insecurity, multi-stakeholder engagement is imperative, as national security cannot be achieved solely by the federal government. A sustainable strategy requires the active participation of state governments in tailoring responses to local realities. Support from local governments in intelligence gathering and community mobilisation is also essential. 

Engagement of traditional and religious institutions as custodians of local values and mediators in conflict resolution, as well as collaboration with civil society and development partners to address humanitarian and socio-economic needs, is equally important. The government should also introduce local language media programs through social media and other media, it will reach and enlighten the bandits and other insurgents

The current approach of adopting a hybrid security framework that blends military action with non-kinetic approaches to create both deterrence and reconciliation is commendable. This dialogue approach should be institutionalised through community dialogue platforms. Furthermore, establishing regular consultation forums where local leaders and security agencies exchange intelligence and build trust is also important. 

Investment in youth empowerment and the development of targeted programs for skills acquisition, entrepreneurship, and agricultural employment should be integrated into the non-kinetic approach to undercut the appeal of criminal networks. 

Another vital element is strengthening data-driven decision-making by basing security strategies on rigorous research, mapping conflict-prone areas, and conducting historical analyses of community dynamics. Fighting insecurity is a continuous process; any slack will have a negative impact. Therefore, creating measurable benchmarks and developing monitoring frameworks to evaluate the success of both kinetic and non-kinetic interventions over time will be beneficial.

No government can afford to sustain a security approach that fails to deliver positive outcomes. A purely kinetic strategy risks perpetuating violence, while a strictly non-kinetic approach may embolden criminal groups. The way forward lies in a carefully balanced model that applies force where necessary, while simultaneously addressing the root causes of insecurity through dialogue, trust-building, and socio-economic development. Only by harmonising both approaches can Nigeria break the cycle of violence and build a foundation for sustainable peace and security.

Zayyad I. Muhammad writes from Abuja via zaymohd@yahoo.com.

By Muhammad Abubakar

Shock and outrage have trailed the appearance of a notorious militia leader, Babaro, at a government-backed peace dialogue in Faskari Local Government Area on Sunday. The bandit commander, long accused of mass killings and sexual violence, arrived at the meeting heavily armed and in a convoy, alongside his fighters.

Witnesses said Babaro and his gang openly flaunted their weapons, taunted residents, and bragged that “nothing will happen to them” despite years of terrorising communities across Katsina and neighbouring states.

Babaro is accused of carrying out some of the deadliest attacks in the region, including the massacre of more than 50 worshippers during morning prayers at Unguwar Mantau Mosque in August. Survivors say the bloodstains of that slaughter are still visible on the mosque’s walls and floor. He is also alleged to have raped women and girls in front of their families, and, together with fellow warlord Kachalla Isiya Akwashi Garwa, killed an unconfirmed number of people, particularly in the Faskari axis.

In Kankara, Malumfashi, and other parts of Katsina, his name has become synonymous with fear, mass abductions, and relentless bloodshed.

The decision to give Babaro and his fighters a seat at a peace meeting has left victims’ families devastated. Relatives of abducted persons, some of whom attended the dialogue, broke down in tears as they watched the same men who killed their loved ones sit at the negotiating table with impunity.

Amnesty International Nigeria sharply criticised the development, warning that privileging armed groups while silencing victims only deepens injustice.

“The mere notion that it is now acceptable for a group of people in Nigeria to carry arms that are solely used to kill people who are never armed is unbelievable,” said Isa Sanusi, spokesperson of Amnesty International Nigeria. “The assumption that those who are carrying sophisticated arms and decorate themselves with bullet magazines can accept peace or are ready to renounce violence is faulty. Nonsense.”

Sanusi questioned how bandits like Babaro continue to obtain weapons and logistical support while victims are left unprotected, marginalised, and ignored.

The Faskari meeting has reignited anger over the government’s controversial peace overtures to armed groups in the northwest, where thousands of people have been killed, abducted, and displaced in a decade-long wave of violence.

By Haroon Aremu Abiodun

“Any country where lawmaking is more lucrative than law enforcement, there must be insecurity.”

That was the piercing submission of veteran Nollywood actor Kanayo O. Kanayo in a podcast interview. This quote still lingers in my mind like a haunting prophecy. Sadly, Nigeria appears to be a textbook example of that paradox.

This raises a chilling question: can we ever be safe in a nation where those crafting the laws live like kings, while those enforcing them die like pawns?

The roads tremble with fear, and villages sleep with one eye open. From Abuja to Zamfara, from the creeks of the Delta to Anambra, to the rocky hills of Birnin Gwari, the word “insecurity” has become a national refrain. 

In whispered conversations and on trending hashtags, Nigerians continue to ask: Can banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism ever truly end in Nigeria?

While President Bola Ahmed Tinubu continues to pledge security reforms, and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu issues strategic statements, the reality on the ground often contradicts this. The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, may be leading an army of patriots. Still, their valour is constantly undermined by systemic inequality, in which the pen is paid more than the gun.

I Witnessed the Truth

In early June, I attended a deeply insightful citizenship engagement forum hosted by Voice of Nigeria (VON). Dignitaries, including the Minister of Information, NSA Ribadu, the Chief of Defence Staff, and other notable figures,were present. But one story shared by the Chief of Defence Staff froze the air.

He recalled a young bandit who surrendered. The military, adopting a “soft approach,” chose not to brutalise him but instead treated him humanely. He was given food, a warm bath, and, for the first time in his life, a mattress.

This wasn’t just about physical comfort. It was symbolic. The boy, barely old enough to vote, said he had never lain on a mattress before. That was his first taste of civilisation, and it came not from a school or community, but from an army barracks. The boy had joined a group of killers not out of hatred, but out of hopelessness.

The Root of the Rot: 3Es

With what the Chief of Defence Staff said, I was able to conclude that part of the root of Nigeria’s security crisis lies in the absence of the “3Es”: Education, Exposure, and Enlightenment. These are not luxuries; they are necessities. And in the North, where banditry has gained a more frightening foothold, their absence is glaring.

It is time for Northern governors to rise beyond rhetoric. The federal government cannot win this war alone. State leaders must begin by reforming their education systems, investing in enlightenment campaigns, and introducing programs that truly expose their youth to life beyond the confines of their communities. Kano State has led the way in propagating and championing this initiative among the northern states, but efforts should be intensified.

Can we save Nigeria? Yes, but not with a centralised, top-down approach. What we need is collaborative security. Community policing must be revived with village chiefs and family heads forming the first line of surveillance.

Security consciousness must be made more crucial and integrated into school curricula and public messaging. Employment generation must become more than a campaign slogan. A graduate left idle is one WhatsApp message away from recruitment into darkness.

“If community policing is fully implemented, it will become far easier to identify and expose those secretly sponsoring or benefiting from terrorism right from the grassroots. Local vigilance, trust networks, and community-driven intelligence can expose hidden collaborators who often conceal their activities behind political or economic influence. Such a system not only strengthens national security but also empowers citizens to take active ownership of their safety and future.”

This is to say, the fight against terror will not be won by guns alone, but by communities standing as the first line of defence

The Role of Institutions

The Ministry of Education and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) must now take centre stage. It is no longer enough to teach arithmetic and grammar; we must now teach security literacy. The young must understand the real consequences of crime. They must be exposed to alternatives.

This encompasses school tours, street theatre, online campaigns, community mentorship, and genuine partnerships between public and private stakeholders.

There is hope. There are patriots in uniform. There are children yet untouched by corruption. There are teachers still driven by conscience. However, all their efforts will be for nothing if lawmakers continue to earn more than those who risk their lives.

The EFCC may chase funds across Iceland and Dubai. The DSS may foil plots in Lagos and Maiduguri. However, until we address the imbalance and make justice more rewarding than crime, we will remain trapped in this cycle.

Let us not wait until another child lies on a mattress in a military cell to realise what he has never had.

Let that mattress be our wake-up call.

So, to President Tinubu, to the NSA Ribadu, to the Defence Chief, and to every governor who still believes in this country: The war will not be won on the battlefield alone; it will be won in the classroom, in the family compound, in the village square, and in the heart of every Nigerian.

Before we talk about weapons, let’s talk about mattresses.

Haroon Aremu Abiodun, An Author, public Affairs Analyst, PRNigeria fellow and wrote in via exponentumera@gmail.com.

By Uzair Adam

Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has accused political interference and lack of cooperation from security agencies of frustrating efforts to end the decade-long banditry crisis that has devastated the state.

Speaking during a media briefing with local journalists in Gusau on Monday, the governor lamented that despite deploying modern surveillance technology capable of tracking the movement of bandits, his government remains helpless because he lacks direct control over security operatives.

Governor Lawal said, “Sometimes, I can see the bandits moving around on my phone because of the technology we are using. I know where they are, where they go, and where they come from.

“But I cannot stop them because I have no power to command the security personnel. If I had that authority, I swear, within two weeks we would end this problem.”

Lawal disclosed that his administration has engaged more than 2,000 hunters and vigilantes from Yobe and Maiduguri, placing them on monthly salaries and equipping them with vehicles and weapons.

However, he expressed frustration that at one point, these recruits were barred from engaging bandits in Shinkafi after a directive was issued to halt their operations.

The governor noted, “This is our biggest challenge. We have men on the ground, well-motivated and ready to confront the bandits, but sometimes they are told not to act. What then do we do?”

Despite the setbacks, Lawal said his administration has spent heavily to support conventional security agencies, including the purchase of 150 new vehicles recently distributed to them.

He explained that he made the tough decision to provide such resources, even though accountability could expose his government to criticism, because he believes leadership is a trust from God.

Zamfara State has in recent years become the epicenter of banditry in northwestern Nigeria.

Armed groups kill, abduct, and displace villagers, often operating in broad daylight. The violence has left many women widowed and children orphaned, while farmers are prevented from cultivating their lands.

Kidnapping for ransom has become a routine source of funding for the armed gangs, worsening poverty and instability across the state.

The governor, visibly emotional, admitted that the situation sometimes moves him to tears, confessing, “There are moments I cry. I see where bandits should be stopped, but nothing happens because instructions have to come from Abuja.

“I have handed everything to God, but I will never stop doing what I can to restore peace to our people,” he added.

He also questioned the motives of the attackers, asking why they target poor villagers who can barely afford food. “What has the common man done to you?” Lawal asked.

He further pledged, “If you want schools, I will build schools. If you want hospitals, I will provide hospitals. If you want water, I will ensure you get water. All so that we can have peace.”

Governor Lawal accused political actors of exploiting insecurity for selfish interests, warning that such actions harm the entire state.

“Security has been politicized,” he said.

He declared, “Anyone enjoying this situation, or trying to use it for politics, may God disgrace them and expose their secrets. If they seek power, may God deny it to them. And if they already hold power, may God take it away, because the injustice has become too much.”

Despite the challenges, the governor reassured Zamfara residents of his determination to defeat banditry, vowing that his government would not relent until peace and stability are restored.