Beyond Guns: Ribadu Calls for Broader Anti-Banditry Strategy

National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, has asserted that military interventions alone are insufficient to eradicate banditry, advocating for enhanced intelligence collaboration, tighter border controls, and active community involvement in combating the security challenge. Ribadu highlighted the transformation of banditry from mere cattle rustling, highway robbery, and abductions into a more complex threat encompassing territorial dominance, illicit levies on rural populations, and the sabotage of economic endeavors.

These remarks were delivered by Zakari Mijinyawa, Director of Legal Services at the Office of the National Security Adviser, who represented Ribadu at a brainstorming session held on Saturday in Sokoto. The event, focused on addressing banditry, was a joint effort by the Sokoto Advancement Forum and the Centre for Peace Studies, Usmanu Danfodiyo University.

The NSA noted that Sokoto State's geographical closeness to the Niger Republic and the broader Sahel region has introduced a transnational element to the crisis, as armed factions exploit weak border enforcement and security deficiencies to perpetuate their operations. He quoted Ribadu, stating, “Sokoto’s proximity to the Republic of Niger and the wider Sahel adds a significant cross-border dimension to this challenge. 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.”

Furthermore, Ribadu urged for interventions to tackle the socio-economic factors that predispose youths to recruitment by criminal organizations. He also advocated for legitimate rehabilitation initiatives for individuals who qualify and are prepared to renounce violence. He firmly stated, “Reintegration must never replace justice or reward violence.”

The National Security Adviser then detailed five key areas to enhance security within Sokoto: preventing armed groups from establishing safe havens, fortifying intelligence and early-warning mechanisms, fostering trust within communities, safeguarding agricultural activities and rural economies, and curbing the enlistment of young people into criminal gangs. He implored security outfits to boost their coordination and sharing of information, noting that communities would be more inclined to offer intelligence if they had confidence in the authorities' ability to respond efficiently and safeguard confidential data.

In related security news, police in Katsina apprehended two suspected bandits, while troops in Sokoto neutralized two terr*rists and recovered rifles. Separately, the Obi of Onitsha appealed for an end to hunger and insecurity.

Ribadu specifically named Sabon Birni, Isa, Tangaza, and Goronyo as crucial locations where early-warning systems need bolstering to guarantee that intelligence on suspicious activities and emerging dangers reaches security agencies without delay. He issued a caution that the prevailing insecurity was hindering farming, trade, and children's access to education, leading to adverse effects on food supply and the broader economic landscape.

The NSA emphasized that the effectiveness of security operations should not solely be gauged by arrests made, weapons retrieved, or territories cleared, but also by the ability of displaced citizens to return to their homes and recommence their daily lives. He articulated, “We must measure progress by more than arrests, weapons recovered or territory cleared. Success must also mean safer communities, returning families, productive farms, reopened schools, functioning markets and the restoration of public confidence.”

Earlier in the session, Professor Muhammad Ahmad Wali, who chairs the Sokoto Advancement Forum, revealed that security breaches have occurred in 21 out of the 23 local government areas in the state. Professor Wali further disclosed that over 1,100 individuals were reportedly abducted in Sokoto within the twelve-month period culminating in June 2026. He characterized this escalating crisis as a direct menace to the lives and livelihoods of residents, as well as to the government's authority. His recommendations included improved intelligence collection, robust border management, prompt administration of justice, active community engagement, and the creation of economic prospects for the youth.

Concluding the preliminary remarks, Prof. Riskuwa Arabu Shehu, the forum's Vice Chairman, implored attendees to formulate actionable recommendations. He stated that the organization intends to consolidate the deliberations into a comprehensive report and communiqué for submission to government bodies, security agencies, and community leaders.