Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Saad Abubakar III, has stated that it will take decades for the North-West geopolitical zone, which has been ravaged by banditry, to overcome its severe security challenges.
The President General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) made this declaration during the North-West Peace and Security Summit held in Katsina State on Monday.
The Sultan emphasized the need to confront the bandits, acknowledging the profound impact banditry and insurgency have on people’s lives.
He warned that it might take decades to recover from the crisis, if at all possible, stressing the severe consequences and issues caused by such insecurity.
He assured that traditional rulers are ready to collaborate with security agencies and the seven governors of the geopolitical zone to address the region’s numerous problems related to banditry and insurgency.
He expressed hope that the summit would yield proposals to significantly reduce insurgency, allowing people to resume their normal lives and businesses.
The summit was attended by notable figures including Vice President Kashim Shettima, representing President Bola Tinubu, former President Muhammadu Buhari, governors from the seven states in the North-West geopolitical zone, service chiefs, and the Inspector General of Police.
Banditry has become prevalent in states such as Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Kano, and Jigawa over the past decade, largely as a spillover effect from the persistent Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East zone.
Thousands of people, predominantly vulnerable individuals, have been killed and displaced by these violent groups, who often disguise themselves as herders. Additionally, many people have been kidnapped for ransom as these armed bandits with AK-47s have proliferated across the North-West and into the North Central zones.
Despite various non-military approaches explored by governments at different levels over the years, these efforts have largely failed. Bandits continue to drive farmers from their lands, significantly disrupting the country’s food production.
