Issues surrounding what we have now identified as ‘banditry’ or simply
criminality which combines, kidnapping, armed robbery, fear mongering,
arson in order to make money has been long in coming. It is not every
time that we have had cartels containing cells of criminals who
practice many forms of banditry simply to make money and subject
citizens to territorial control. This is classic impunity which has
resulted from many years of negligence. This negligence is not
necessarily about poverty but lack of governance in our many
communities and or ineffective governance, poor law enforcement and of
course, corruption.
In Katsina, the taciturn Governor Aminu Bello Masari raised the alarm
about bandits’ siege on Katsina State, however till date, there have
been several attacks on hapless citizens in communities across the
state. Residents of the state, especially those residing in rural
communities, have been living with the nightmare of attacks by
bandits, who often storm their homes in the wee hours to rape, rustle
cattle and kidnap for ransom.
Unfortunately, this criminality has exacerbated over time, despite
efforts to stem the menace. Areas worst hit include Sabuwa, Safana,
Batsari, Jibia, Kurfi, Danmusa and Dandume Local Government Areas of
the state. Only recently, reports say the marauders attacked Wurma
community of Kurfi council area and abducted no fewer than forty women
and children, after embarking on house to house search.
The regular attacks on Katsina communities which is suggestive of the
enormity of the worsening security situation in the North West,
reached an alarming proportion, prompting the state government to
initiate dialogue with the bandits. Obviously disturbed by the
persistent attacks and determined to bring it to an end, Governor
Masari, recently kick-started visits to the bandits’ turf, where
dialogues with them were held in a bid to end the seemingly
intractable criminality.
Fundamentally, the activities of these bandits have led to loss of
lives and property, and are threatening food security as most farmers
can no longer go to their farms for fear of being abducted or killed.
In an agrarian economy like Katsina, the implication of sustained
bandits’ attacks on farming communities even during rainy season to
food security can better be imagined. Already, there are calls on the
state to brace for the challenges of economic loss occasioned by the
attacks.
It is therefore difficult to fathom what else to do since conventional
way and means of fighting crime has failed. Their neighbours, Zamfara
State has recorded what looks like a success. After months (if not
years) of killings and destabilization, the new governor chose a
different path. He “dialogued” with their tormentors and today the
story is different. There is a commendable peace in the state. Maybe
this is what Masari has copied? Of course if it worked for Zamfara
nothing stops it from working for Katsina. At the root of every
society’s problem is insecurity. So, it now seems like we have reached
that juncture where we must do what we have to, for us to get what we
want.
Let us see if the katsina episode will work. This also brings another
challenge which is the duality of our governance structure which
accommodates non state actors in the stability of the system. Where
will this lead us? are we not feeding a Frankenstein? But the state
government’s efforts to end the rising wave of banditry in her
communities which hitherto made the state ungovernable with attendant
deaths of hundreds of people, rustling of cows and other animals as
well as the sacking of many villages and displacement of their
residents can no longer be tolerated.
Like most Nigerians, we are tempted to ask what makes these criminals
tick. It is an established fact that for dialogue of this nature to
make impact, the government must be in a position of strength to
dictate the terms of the peace. But can we confidently say the
government is negotiating from the position of strength? Do we really
need to dialogue with these renegades? Would they abide by the terms
of the agreement? Are there plans to compensate victims of this
heinous crime?
All the same, the state government must be able to understand that
failure of the deal will have serious consequences on the security
situation in the state. Indeed, the proper thing is for the government
to take the fight to the bandits in the bush, flush them out and make
life unbearable for them. But can they? What has the National Security
Adviser got to say about this?
