Sokoto Govt Calls for Regional Approach to Tackle Banditry in North-West

The Sokoto State Government has called for a coordinated regional strategy to tackle banditry across the North-West, warning that the cross-border nature of the criminal activities makes it difficult for individual states to defeat the threat independently.

The state’s Special Adviser on Security Matters, Col. Ahmed Usman (retd.), made the call while reacting to the Zamfara State Government’s inauguration of a 13-member State Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration, Peace and Security Committee.

Usman said military operations remained necessary in the fight against armed criminal groups but stressed that military action alone could not deliver lasting peace across the region.

He advocated a comprehensive approach combining security operations with peacebuilding, rehabilitation, justice, community engagement and reintegration programmes for individuals who genuinely abandon violence.

According to him, people who voluntarily surrender their weapons, renounce violence and demonstrate a commitment to peaceful coexistence should be given opportunities to return to lawful and productive lives.

However, Usman warned that individuals who continued attacking communities and terrorising residents should be prosecuted and made to face the law.

The Sokoto security adviser stressed the need for stronger cooperation among states in the North-West, particularly in intelligence sharing, joint security operations, border surveillance and community engagement.

He also called for improved collaboration among security agencies operating across state boundaries, arguing that coordinated action would make it more difficult for criminal groups to exploit jurisdictional gaps.

Usman described banditry as a regional challenge whose consequences frequently extend beyond the state where an attack occurs.

He noted that developments in one state could have direct security implications for neighbouring states, making collective planning and information sharing essential to achieving sustainable peace.

The call comes amid continuing efforts by governments in the North-West to address insecurity through a combination of military operations, community-based initiatives and programmes aimed at encouraging the surrender and rehabilitation of armed groups willing to abandon violence.

Usman said the region’s response must therefore move beyond isolated state-level measures and embrace a coordinated framework capable of addressing the security, social and economic dimensions of banditry.