Retired Chief of Army Staff and former Interior Minister, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (rtd), has issued a stark warning about the worsening security crisis in Northern Nigeria. Speaking at the First Media and Security Summit in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, on Monday, Dambazau revealed that bandits and insurgents have seized control over several communities, imposing their own taxes and laws.
The summit, themed “Existential Threats and National Security,” brought together prominent northern leaders, including the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, and governors from Nasarawa and Kebbi States, to discuss the deeply entrenched security challenges facing the region.
Dambazau lamented that insecurity has plagued the North for more than two decades, claiming thousands of lives and displacing millions, with little decisive action from government authorities. “The North has suffered from herders-farmers clashes, terrorism, and banditry. People have been killed in mosques across Katsina, Borno, Zamfara, and Kano. Today, bandits and insurgents have taken some of our communities, collecting taxes and making laws,” he stated.
Highlighting the human toll, the retired general spoke of the thousands killed, millions displaced, the rise in widows and orphans, farmers losing their lands, and cattle rustled with impunity, all occurring amid an inadequate governmental response.
He urged northern governors to curb reliance on federal allocations by creating Ministries of Mineral Resources to work alongside federal agencies in harnessing the region’s natural wealth. This strategy, he suggested, could generate employment, reduce poverty, and tackle one of the root causes of insecurity.
Dambazau also called for restoring the authority of traditional institutions, significant investment in agriculture, education for out-of-school children, and policies fostering social inclusion. “Over 70 percent of those suffering from poverty linked to insecurity are in the North. Religious extremism further fuels violence, emboldening Boko Haram, the ‘Lakurawa’ terrorists, and bandits alike,” he warned.
Earlier, the Sultan of Sokoto stressed the need for collective responsibility in addressing security concerns. “Security is everybody’s responsibility. Nigeria was not always like this. By coming together, understanding each other, and implementing peace-building actions, we can restore stability,” the Sultan emphasized.
Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa acknowledged the complexity of insecurity in the North West, pointing to climate change and socio-economic factors as possible contributors. “This summit is vital to examine the root causes of insecurity and forge collective action,” he said.
Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi described the gathering as a crucial step towards confronting the North’s security and developmental crises. “This summit allows us to openly discuss our challenges and craft practical solutions,” he concluded.
The summit underscored the urgent need for coordinated efforts among political, traditional, and community leaders to restore peace and security across Northern Nigeria.
