Sokoto gov’s aide urges North-West unity to fight banditry

The Sokoto State Government has called for a coordinated regional approach to combat banditry in the North-West, citing the cross-border nature of the criminal activities that makes it difficult for individual states to tackle the issue alone. Col. Ahmed Usman (retd.), the state's Special Adviser on Security Matters, made this call in response to Zamfara State's inauguration of a 13-member State Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR), Peace and Security Committee.

Usman emphasized that while military operations against armed criminal groups are necessary, they cannot guarantee lasting peace by themselves. He stated, "The fight against banditry cannot be won through military action alone. There must be a coordinated approach that combines effective security operations with peacebuilding, rehabilitation, justice, community engagement and reintegration where appropriate."

Usman further highlighted that individuals who relinquish their weapons, renounce violence, and demonstrate a commitment to peaceful coexistence should be offered opportunities to reintegrate into lawful and productive lives, while those who continue attacking communities must face the legal consequences. The security adviser stressed the need for stronger collaboration among North-West states, particularly in areas such as intelligence sharing, joint operations, border surveillance, and community engagement.

He emphasized that banditry is a regional challenge and that the responses must also be coordinated at the regional level, as what happens in one state can have direct consequences for neighboring states. Usman further urged authorities to strengthen support for lawful livelihoods and vulnerable communities to prevent people from being drawn into cycles of violence.

He added that any DDR process should be community-centered and subject to thorough screening to prevent the exploitation of the program or infiltration of criminal elements into communities.