Ribadu Says Military Operations Alone Cannot End Banditry

 

National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has said military operations alone cannot end banditry in Nigeria, calling for stronger intelligence-sharing, effective border security and greater community participation to tackle insecurity.

Ribadu made the statement on Saturday through the Director of Legal Services in the Office of the National Security Adviser, Zakari Mijinyawa, at a brainstorming session on banditry organised by the Sokoto Advancement Forum in collaboration with the Centre for Peace Studies at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.

He explained that banditry had evolved beyond cattle rustling, highway robbery and kidnapping to include territorial control, illegal taxation of rural communities and the disruption of economic activities.

According to him, Sokoto State’s proximity to the Republic of Niger and the wider Sahel region has given the security crisis a cross-border dimension, with armed groups exploiting porous borders and security gaps to sustain their operations.

Ribadu stressed the need to combine intelligence-led military operations with effective border management, regional cooperation and sustained efforts to disrupt the supply of illegal weapons and other logistical support to criminal groups.

He also called for measures to address the socioeconomic conditions that make young people vulnerable to recruitment by armed groups. He advocated lawful rehabilitation programmes for individuals willing to renounce violence, while emphasising that reintegration must not replace justice or reward criminal activities.

The NSA outlined five priority areas for improving security in Sokoto State: denying armed groups safe havens, strengthening intelligence and early-warning systems, rebuilding community trust, protecting agriculture and rural livelihoods, and preventing the recruitment of young people into criminal networks.

He urged security agencies to improve coordination and information-sharing, noting that communities would be more willing to provide useful intelligence if they trusted authorities to respond promptly and protect sensitive information.

Ribadu identified Sabon Birni, Isa, Tangaza and Goronyo as areas where early-warning mechanisms should be strengthened to ensure that reports of suspicious movements and emerging threats reach security agencies quickly.

He warned that persistent insecurity was disrupting farming, trade and education, particularly in rural communities, with serious consequences for food production and economic development.