“Bandits and Insurgents Now Make Laws and Collect Taxes in Our Communities” — Ex-Chief of Army Staff Dambazau

At the First Media and Security Summit held in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, former Minister of Interior and ex-Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (rtd), raised alarm over the worsening state of insecurity in Northern Nigeria, warning that bandits and insurgents have now seized control of some communities, imposing taxes and enforcing their own laws.

Speaking on the theme “Existential Threats and National Security,” Dambazau described the North’s plight as dire, citing years of violence from terrorism, banditry, and herder-farmer conflicts. “People were killed in Katsina, Borno, Zamfara, and Kano mosques. We have reached a point where bandits and insurgents control communities, tax residents, and make laws for them,” he said.

He lamented the devastating human cost of insecurity, noting the rising numbers of widows and orphans, mass displacement, and the collapse of farming and livestock production. Dambazau urged northern governors to create Ministries of Mineral Resources to collaborate with federal agencies in harnessing local resources, boosting state revenues, and tackling the poverty that fuels insecurity. He also called for renewed investment in agriculture, empowerment of traditional institutions, education reform, and policies to foster inclusion and reduce inequality.

“Over 70 percent of those suffering from poverty linked to insecurity are from the North,” he said. “Religious extremism remains a major threat, with groups like Boko Haram, Lakurawa terrorists, and bandits continuing to unleash violence on our people.”

Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, urged collaboration among leaders to restore peace, emphasizing that security is a shared duty. “We need to come together to talk with each other on how to solve this problem,” he said. “Nigeria was not like this before. We can restore peace if we work together and act on our collective decisions.”

Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule stressed that insecurity in the North West must be addressed from its roots, pointing to the roles of climate change, poverty, and governance lapses. Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris added that the summit offers an essential platform for northern leaders to openly confront their common challenges and develop lasting solutions.