The persistent wave of bandit attacks and kidnappings in Sokoto State has pushed youths in the Shagari Local Government Area (LGA) to take an unprecedented step: considering self-defence. A statement from youth activist Bello Bala Shagari, released on Thursday, revealed that the frustration felt by young people in the area has reached a boiling point, prompting them to contemplate taking up arms to protect themselves and their communities.
In an online meeting, Shagari youths expressed deep concern over the government’s failure to protect them from frequent banditry, which has left many lives shattered. They pointed to the rising number of attacks, including the displacement of families, destruction of farmland, and the constant fear that now grips the region.
Bello Bala Shagari, a grandson of former Nigerian President Shehu Shagari, stated, “We have reached a last-resort decision. We can no longer sit idly while our people are being humiliated and killed. The government has failed us, and self-defence may be our only remaining option.” He stressed that while the youths had always preferred peace, the government’s inability to ensure their safety had pushed them to consider other means.
“We are being killed, and nothing is being done. Our farms are destroyed, and families are displaced. We cannot sit idly and watch our people suffer. The government has done little to help us,” he added. The youths also voiced their anger over the perceived apathy of both the Sokoto State Government and the Federal Government, calling for immediate action to deploy adequate security personnel to Shagari and surrounding areas.
Security analysts have warned that the emergence of armed self-defence groups could escalate the violence, complicating efforts to restore peace. Nonetheless, with attacks growing in frequency across the North-West, communities like Shagari are finding it increasingly difficult to wait for government action.
The Sokoto State region has been severely affected by banditry, with neighbouring states such as Zamfara, Katsina, and Kebbi also grappling with similar issues. These attacks, often characterized by mass abductions, killings, and raids on farming villages, have left communities vulnerable and traumatized.
Reports from conflict tracking agencies like SBM Intelligence have shown that the violence in the North-West has resulted in hundreds of deaths and thousands of displacements since 2021. In Zamfara, the kidnapping of 279 schoolgirls from Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe, in February 2021 marked one of the most tragic episodes in the ongoing insecurity. Other high-profile abductions, such as the kidnapping of students in Niger State, have further highlighted the region’s vulnerability.
Despite numerous military operations like Operation Hadarin Daji and Operation Safe Haven, insecurity continues to spread, leaving many communities accusing the authorities of neglect. Civil society organizations, including Amnesty International, have documented how rural residents in the North-West suffer from extortion, forced levies, and killings by armed groups, with no meaningful intervention from the government.
The Shagari youths’ decision to consider self-defence follows similar moves in neighbouring states. In both Zamfara and Katsina, local vigilante groups known as Yan Sakai have emerged in response to the escalating insecurity. While these groups have been praised for their efforts to protect communities, they have also been blamed for inciting violence and revenge killings, further complicating the already volatile situation.
