Key Takeaways

• Nuhu Ribadu says military operations alone cannot end banditry in Nigeria.
• He says the security threat has expanded beyond cattle rustling, highway robbery and kidnapping.
• Sokoto’s proximity to Niger Republic and the wider Sahel adds a cross-border dimension to the challenge, according to the NSA.
• Ribadu called for intelligence-led operations, effective border management, regional cooperation and action against illicit weapons supplies.
• He advocated measures to address youth vulnerability to recruitment and lawful rehabilitation for eligible individuals.
• He stressed that reintegration must not replace justice or reward violence.
• His five security priorities include denying armed groups safe havens, strengthening early-warning systems, building community trust, protecting rural livelihoods and preventing youth recruitment.
• Ribadu also urged better coordination and information-sharing among security agencies.

National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu has said military operations alone cannot end banditry in Nigeria, calling for a broader security strategy that combines intelligence-led operations, border management, regional cooperation and measures to address the conditions that make young people vulnerable to criminal recruitment.

Ribadu said banditry had expanded beyond cattle rustling, highway robbery and kidnapping, requiring security agencies and communities to adopt a more coordinated approach.

According to Naija News, the NSA spoke through Zakari Mijinyawa, Director of Legal Services in the Office of the National Security Adviser, at a brainstorming session on coping with banditry. The event was organised by the Sokoto Advancement Forum in collaboration with the Centre for Peace Studies at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, on Saturday.

Ribadu Highlights Sokoto’s Cross-Border Security Challenge

Ribadu identified Sokoto’s proximity to Niger Republic and the wider Sahel as an important factor in the security challenge, noting that armed groups exploit porous borders and security gaps to sustain their activities.

He said the situation required more than military action, with intelligence, border controls and cooperation across the region forming part of a broader response.

“Sokoto’s proximity to the Republic of Niger and the wider Sahel adds a significant cross-border dimension to this challenge.”

Ribadu said security agencies must combine operational efforts with stronger border management and measures to disrupt the supply of weapons and other logistical support to armed groups.

“We must therefore combine intelligence-led operations, effective border management, regional cooperation and sustained action against the supply of illicit weapons and other logistical support,” he said.

The proposed approach places emphasis on identifying threats, improving coordination between relevant authorities and preventing criminal groups from exploiting gaps in border security.

NSA Calls for Measures to Prevent Youth Recruitment

Ribadu also called for action to address the socioeconomic conditions that make young people vulnerable to recruitment by criminal groups.

Alongside security operations, he advocated lawful rehabilitation programmes for eligible individuals willing to abandon violence. The approach seeks to create a path away from criminal activity while maintaining accountability for wrongdoing.

However, Ribadu stressed that rehabilitation must not undermine justice or be treated as a reward for violence.

“Reintegration must never replace justice or reward violence,” he said.

The distinction is central to the approach outlined by the NSA: individuals who qualify for rehabilitation may be supported in leaving criminal activity, but reintegration should not replace the justice process.

Five Security Priorities for Tackling Banditry in Sokoto

Ribadu outlined five areas he said should guide efforts to improve security in Sokoto.

1. Denying armed groups safe havens

Security agencies need to prevent armed groups from using locations as bases from which they organise attacks, evade authorities or sustain criminal activities.

2. Strengthening intelligence and early-warning systems

Better intelligence gathering and early-warning mechanisms could help authorities identify emerging threats and respond before violence escalates.

3. Building community trust

Cooperation between residents and security agencies is important because local communities may hold information that can help identify threats. However, people must have confidence that authorities will act on the information and protect sensitive details.

4. Protecting agriculture and rural livelihoods

Safeguarding farming communities and rural economic activities is another priority identified by Ribadu. Insecurity can threaten livelihoods and disrupt the economic activities on which many residents depend.

5. Preventing youth recruitment into criminal networks

Addressing the conditions that expose young people to recruitment, alongside lawful rehabilitation for eligible individuals, forms part of the broader strategy proposed by the NSA.

Together, these priorities combine security operations with intelligence, community engagement and measures intended to reduce the conditions that allow criminal networks to persist.

Ribadu Urges Better Coordination and Information-Sharing

The NSA urged security agencies to improve coordination and information-sharing as part of efforts to tackle banditry.

He also emphasised the importance of public confidence, saying communities would be more willing to provide intelligence when they trusted authorities to respond effectively and protect sensitive information.

The approach places community trust alongside operational capacity. Even where security agencies have personnel and intelligence systems, effective cooperation can be weakened if residents fear that information will not be acted upon or that their identities will not be protected.

Ribadu’s message is that addressing banditry requires a coordinated response that brings together intelligence-led operations, border security, regional cooperation, community confidence and measures to prevent recruitment into criminal groups.

His recommendations outline a wider strategy for Sokoto and the surrounding region, although the supplied report does not establish whether the proposed measures have been implemented or how effective they have been.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What did Nuhu Ribadu say about military operations and banditry?

Ribadu said military operations alone cannot end banditry. He called for a broader strategy involving intelligence, border security, regional cooperation and measures to prevent recruitment into criminal groups.

2. Why is Sokoto’s location important to the security challenge?

According to Ribadu, Sokoto’s proximity to Niger Republic and the wider Sahel gives the crisis a cross-border dimension. He said armed groups exploit porous borders and security gaps.

3. What measures did Ribadu recommend to tackle banditry?

He highlighted intelligence-led operations, stronger border management, regional cooperation, action against illicit weapons supplies, community trust, protection of rural livelihoods and prevention of youth recruitment.

4. What did Ribadu say about rehabilitation and reintegration?

He called for lawful rehabilitation programmes for eligible individuals willing to abandon violence, while stressing that reintegration must not replace justice or reward violence.

5. What are the five security priorities Ribadu outlined for Sokoto?

They are denying armed groups safe havens, strengthening intelligence and early-warning systems, building community trust, protecting agriculture and rural livelihoods, and preventing youth recruitment into criminal networks.

6. Why is community trust important in tackling banditry?

Ribadu said communities would be more willing to provide intelligence if they trusted authorities to respond effectively and protect sensitive information.

7. Where did Ribadu make the remarks?

He spoke through Zakari Mijinyawa at a brainstorming session on coping with banditry organised by the Sokoto Advancement Forum in collaboration with the Centre for Peace Studies at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, according to the supplied report.

8. Has the proposed strategy ended banditry in Sokoto?

The supplied report outlines Ribadu’s recommendations but does not establish that the measures have been fully implemented or that they have ended banditry.