Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Saad Abubakar III, says it will take decades for the bandit-ravaged Northwest geopolitical zone to emerge from the menacing security challenge.
The President General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) stated this at the Northwest Peace and Security Summit in Katsina State.
“What we must do is to challenge these bandits because we all know the consequences of banditry and insurgency on our lives. But it will take decades to get out of it if all we get out of it. We all know the consequences and the problems,” he said.
The Sultan communicated the status of traditional rulers to cooperate with security agencies and the seven Lead Representatives of the geopolitical zone to “save our region from the numerous problems” of banditry and insurgency.
He believed that towards the end of the summit, proposals to bring insurgency to the barest minimum for people to go about their lives and businesses would be arrived at.
The summit was graced by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented President Bola Tinubu; ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, Lead Reprsenttives of the seven states in the North-West geopolitical zone, service chiefs, the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
Banditry turned into a phenomenon in Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Kano, and Jigawa in the most recent decade as a spillover of the Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast zone.
Numerous people, mostly vulnerable persons, have been maimed and displaced by the murderous raiders who mostly camouflage as herders. An extremely large number of people have likewise been kidnapped for ransom as the AK-47-wielding bandits increase across the Northwest zone and infiltrate the North Central zone.
Non-kinetic approaches explored by governments at different levels have failed over the years as bandits continue to sack farmers from their farmlands, altogether affecting the food production of the nation.
