THE IMPACT OF RURAL BANDITRY ON SOCIO-ECONOMIC

DEVELOPMENT IN ZAMFARA STATE FROM 2011-2021: INSECURITY,

GOVERNANCE AND DEVELOPMENT
 CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

The safety of lives and property has been a major source of concern for Human right

from time immemorial, the search for security forms part of the reasons why people

aggregated into bands, tribes, kingdoms, and nation-states to join international

organizations (Robinso, 2018). Even in ancient times, the need for security was

expressed in the form of fruit gathering and periodic expeditions for the aim of meeting

the most important socio-economic requirements of the people. Perhaps, the physical

security need of the people constituted part of the reasons why they preferred rocky and

mountainous topographies for shelter, (Robinso, 2018). Thus, one of the most important

roles of any state is to protect its citizens and inhabitants against any threat, be it

physical, social, or economic. In the words of Aristotle ―The state exists for the sake of

life and continues for the sake of the best life.

Uche and Iwuamadi (2018), noted that Nigeria is, arguably, a country under distress. The

country’s woes are most evident in the torrential spate of armed violence and criminality

in various parts of the country. Nothing explains this awry situation better than the

apocalyptically volatile security ambience in the wider northern Nigeria. The North-

Eastern Nigeria is still patently under the Boko Haram scourge, amidst the precarious

counter-insurgency endeavors of the government (Yaro and Tobias, 2019). The North-

Central area has been afflicted by herdsmen militancy, which has plunged the region into

dire humanitarian crisis (Yaro and Tobias, 2019). The North-Western region has

recently been enmeshed in the rapid upsurge of rural banditry along its international

frontiers as well as the forested interior.

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Suffice to say that the north western region of Nigeria encompasses seven states namely

Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Kaduna, Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi. Five of these states, which

are Katsina, Kaduna, Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi have been mostly affected by the

scourge of banditry. Of these five states, Kaduna, Katsina and Zamfara have been the

most critical hot spots. It is however, pertinent to note that the incidences of banditry are

not limited to north western Nigeria. In fact, it is also prevalent in some parts of north-

central region, in states like Niger, Nasarawa, Benue and Plateau which are equally

regarded as hotbeds (Murtala, 2018).

Asmau and Abdulrasheed (2020) emphasized that in Zamfara State, criminal gangs are

engage in rural banditry by stealing cattle and livestock leading to the displacement of

rural dwellers. The theft of animals forces the rural inhabitants to migrate southward;

causing environmental degradation, population growth, increase in the price of cattle,

regional instability influence and exacerbates farmers/herders conflict dynamics. Rural

banditry and cattle rustling appear to be increasing by the day because of several

interconnected issues involving tensions between farmers and pastoralists exploited by

criminals masquerading as herdsmen.

The phenomenon appears to be connected to government security inadequacies, identity

and intergroup relations and the worsening socioeconomic conditions of the people. The

rural areas are populated by farmers and pastoralists who form the economic foundation

of the nation contributing over 40% of Nigeria's Gross Domestic Product in recent years

(Mustapha, 2019). Rustling and other animal theft has a different significance in the

context of perennial conflict between pastoralists and crop farmers. Hence, conflicts are

driven by insecurity perpetuated by grazers in this area. For instance, the growing

menace of cattle rustling by armed gangs and bandits appears to differ in terms of scale

2
and economic consequences in “ungoverned” spaces, and territories of Zamfara States.

These armed gang and bandits routinely raid cattle ranches owned by traditional

pastoralists (Mustapha, 2019).

The rising incidence of cattle rustling as a part of the problem of rural banditry may not

be unconnected to the problem of small arms and light weapons that have found their

way into the hands of non-state actors, now a part of the wider challenge of human

security confronting Nigeria. Although it is difficult to obtain reliable data in Nigeria, it

has been suggested that between 7 and 8 million illicit small arms and light weapons are

in circulation in West Africa alone, with a huge number entering Nigeria (Ogunleye &

Adewale, 2016).

This is largely a result of porous borders, including the affinity between border

communities which consider any stringent border control as an infringement upon the

social and cultural rights of the people (Okoli & Ugwu, 2019). This estimate is far above

the figure of 1-2 million illicit small arms in the early 2000s (Egwu, 2015). Public policy

responses must recognize that most of the factors potentially driving the proliferation of

small arms and light weapons are linked to the decline in state capacity and the human

security dilemma facing both the state and citizens. The situation in many parts of

Nigeria resembles broader Sahel region governance voids. For instance, ungoverned

space provides a power vacuum, which is at times filled by religious extremist groups

and/or criminal elements who have taken over remote areas where the State presence is

reduced or non-existent (Omede, 2017).

Banditry in Zamfara State is worsened by the proliferation of small arms and light

weapons, affected by conflict due to lack of successfully-implementation of disarmament

programmes (Rufa'I, 2018). More often than not, targeted groups merely cross porous

3
borders, acquiring new identities in the process. The difficult terrain of many rural areas

coupled with poor communication, lack of social amenities such as good roads, adequate

power supply and health facilities and poverty aggravate the situation, transforming it

into ideal space for rustling, smuggling, and small arms trade. These conditions also

provide potential routes for terrorist activities. These core challenges of human security

are increased further by democratic governance's failure to deliver development and

livelihood security for either individuals or groups of people in the study area. Also,

perhaps, major violent crises have been manifestations of the deteriorating human

security situation and the failure of democratic governance in the rural area of Zamfara

State. It has also sparked discourses that frame conflicts between different occupational

groups, such as crop farmers and grazers (Laniyan & Yahaya, 2017)

It is against this backdrop that this study deems it appropriate for the rural dwellers not to

be left in the hands of bandits because they are significant to the national economy and

constitute about 70% of the nation's population (Igbuzor, 2017). It is therefore imperative

to put the activities of bandits in context and deal with it effectively so as to enable rural

dwellers to carry out their activities to boost rural economy. Hence this study seek to

examine the impact of rural banditry on socio-economic development in Zamfara State.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

There is no gainsaying the fact that banditry poses a serious challenge not only to the

security of Zamfara states but to the country at large in view of its ever increasing

impacts and implications (Rufa'i, 2018). The level at which armed bandits operate within

the northwest region and Zafara in particular calls for attention by both the State and

Federal governments, more especially, since the latter controls the state security

apparatuses. This complex situation of social violence and insecurity in the affected

4
states had been on for almost a decade now (Mustapha, 2019). The increasing attacks of

bandit groups have led to the destruction of lives and properties, displacement of people

from their communities; and a growing numbers of widows; widowers and orphans, who

now reside in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps following the continued attacks

of armed bandits on both farming and pastoral communities across different areas of the

states (Igbuzor, 2017; Mustapha, 2019).

The menace of the Armed Bandit and cattle rustling had virtually posed serious

security challenges to Zamfara State and Nigeria at large. This, made (Egwu,

2016, Maureen & Blessing, 2018) to view it as criminal enterprises with the

consequences for the socio-economic, political, cultural and psychological spheres

of (affected) society. It has been observed that, the scale of operations of armed

bandits is so high that it attracts both local and international attention and

concern. This is because millions of people were forced to leave their homes to seek

safety in another new area very strange and unfamiliar to them, which in the process

led people to lose their assets and get exposed to enormous hardship and avoidable

danger.

The most disturbing trends here are that, in spite of the various governments’

strategies, measures and intervention to curb this menace, the horror seems ceaseless and

of course, the numbers of the displaced persons continue to multiply by day (Offem &

Ichoku, 2017). Attempts at mitigating the problem became more cumbersome for the

state, the communities affected and the country at large, This has generated serious

concerns from government as well as both local and international agencies due to

the fact that most of the communities in Zamfara State have been ravaged by the

nefarious activities of the Armed Banditry and the cattle rustlers which negatively

5
had impact on both state and national sustainable economic development (Rufa'I,

2018).

Laniyan and Yahaya (2017) stressed that though the police are traditionally responsible

for the maintenance of peace, law and order within the nation, it appears that its

personnel are being overstretched by the responsibility of securing the political process

and political functionaries of the state apart from the fact that it is ill-equipped to meet

the challenges of contemporary security needs. In addition, Nigeria is under-policed, its

personnel are grossly inadequate, running short of the United Nations requirements or

ratio of one police to four hundred citizens. Furthermore, the salary of the police

personnel is poor; welfare services are nonexistent while there has been no incentive to

boost their morale.

The general social discontent and distrust among citizens have made the probable

collaboration between the security men and the people fragile thus inhibiting the efficient

and effective performance of security agencies in successfully confronting the bandit

groups. This development has therefore, affected government efforts in achieving the

desired goal of crushing banditry in Zamfara State (Yaro & Tobias, 2019).

Against the backdrop of the upsurge in incidences of banditry in recent times, this paper

examined the phenomenon of banditry as it affects the security and socio-economic

development in Zamfara State

1.3 Research Question

i. What are the kind and magnitudes of banditry in Zamfara State.?

ii. What are the effect of banditry in the socio-economic and agricultural

activities in Zamfara State?

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iii. What is the level at which the people and the environment respond to banditry

activities in Zamfara State?

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1.4 Aim and Objectives of the Study

The aim of this study is to examine the impact of rural banditry on socio-economic

development of Zamfara State from 2011-2021. The specific objectives are:

i. To assess the kinds and magnitudes of banditry in Zamfara State.

ii. To examine the effect of banditry in the area’s socio-economic and

agricultural activities in Zamfara State.

i. To assess the level at which the people and their environment respond to

banditry activities in Zamfara State.

1.5 Research Methodology

Qualitative research method of the social sciences was adopted. This method includes

gathering data from primary sources through interviews of key informants drawn from

community union leadership structure and interactions with relevant stakeholders

identified within some Local Government Area (LGA). The interviews were guided by a

set of predetermined questions. In addition, secondary data were sourced and largely

used to complement shortfalls of the interviews and interactions. Here, a desk review of

relevant literature like scholarly articles, government reports, submissions to panel of

inquiry, media accounts, and publications of non-governmental organizations (NGOs)

were analysed. These materials were sourced from various knowledge repository centers

and platforms

1.6 Significance of the Study

The presence of banditry in any environment constitutes threat to lives and properties,

hinders business activities, and discourages local and foreign investors, all of which

stifles and retards socio-economic development of a country. So, embarking on a study

8
of this nature is to find out the influence of banditry on socio-economic development, the

perception of people on security/insecurity in their area, and the solution to the problem

of insecurity affecting the society.

This study is also significant in the sense that it provides information for academic

purposes and also compliments other previous studies on the same subject and brings

about the magnitude of influence; banditry has on economic development in Zamfara

State and Nigeria as a country. It will also help to improve the banditry and insecurity

problem affecting development, and the study would provide them with information on

ground which can help redevelop better security strategies and policies.

This research work establishes the relationship between banditry and socio-economic

development, in addition, the information that comes from this study, will provide useful

information for policy formulators in Nigeria concerning the issue of banditry and

insecurity as a whole, although there has been many studies carried out on the nature of

insecurity in Northern Nigeria, however this study will point out some of the loop holes

affecting the success of banditry.

1.7 Scope of the Study

This study focuses on the impact of rural banditry on socio-economic development in

Zamfara State from 2011-2021. The scope of this research is limited to the extent as a

result of time constraint and other logistics problems that may inhibit the researcher from

going beyond the scope. A particular focus will be on impact of Banditry on socio-

economic development in Zamfara State.

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1.8 Conceptual Clarification

i. Banditry: Banditry is a type of organized crime committed by outlaws

typically involving the threat or use of violence.

ii. Bandit: A person who engages in banditry and primarily commits crimes

such as extortion, robbery, and murder, either as an individual or in groups.

iii. Economy: The word economy is Greek and means ―household

management.‖ The economy is the mechanism that religious the use of labour,

equipment, vehicles, land and other natural resources in order to satisfy the

desires of the people who live in a society (Hyman, 1991). This mechanism

involves the complexity of interactions related to the production, distribution,

and consumption of goods and services.

iv. Socio-economic Development : is the social science that studies how

economic activity affects and is shaped by social processes.

v. Insecurity: According to Beland (2005) insecurity entails lack of protection

from crime (being unsafe) and lack of freedom from psychological harm

(unprotected from emotional stress resulting from paucity of assurance that an

individual is accepted, has opportunity and choices to fulfill his or her own

potentials including freedom from fear.

vi. Cattle rusting: Cattles rustling is the act of stealing cattle. Recently, the

increase of cattle rustling in Nigeria has involved the form of substantial

village raids, whereby pastoralist‘s communities are recurrently attacked,

raped and steal any obtainable item that goes beyond livestock theft. These

forms of attack have become very common in the Northern parts of Nigeria

(Okoli & Okpaleke, 2014).

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1.9 Conclusion

This chapter have discussed the background of rural banditry. Understanding armed

banditry may create a problem when one tries to delineate the difference between it and

armed robbery. This is because in each situation there is the use of force and weapons of

offence and defense. The basic aim is that of dispossessing their victims of their

possessions, in the course of which injury or even death may occur. Robbery is a proto-

type of the kind of crime most feared by the public. It usually involves theft with

violence or threat of violence by a person with whom the victim has had no previous

contact, and it is usually unprovoked and unpredictable .It is therefore the crime of

taking or attempting to take something of value by force or by putting fear in the victim.

Rural banditry in the opinion of the researcher and for the purpose of this study should

be seen as the practice of raiding and attacking victims by members of an armed group,

whether or not premeditated, using weapons of offence or defense especially in semi-

organized groups for the purpose of overpowering the victim and obtaining loot or

achieving some political goals. Such bandits are usually regarded as outlaws and

desperate lawless marauders who do not have a definite residence or destination, and

they roam around the forest and mountains to avoid being detected or arrested

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 CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Introduction

Scholars have on many occasions, written about the menace of banditry and socio-

economic development. In fact, a lot has been written on the nature, conduct, character

and the vicious activities of banditry. Therefore, this section deals with the review of

such related works.

2.2 Review of Related Literatures

For instance, Egwu (2015), in his work the “Political Economy of Rural Banditry in

Contemporary Nigeria, viewed armed banditry as a practice of stealing cattle and

animals from herders or the process of raiding of cattle from ranches. Although, in his

opinion these activities was usually driven by several other means and factors, but, can

be regarded generally as economically- based form of criminality perpetuated through an

informal network. As an economic based issue, Egwu (2015) further postulates that,

armed banditry thrives as a means of “primitive” accumulation of cow herds in the

context of subsistence and commercial pastoralism.

To Egwu (2015), the dexterity of armed banditry and cattle rustling has impacted

negatively on national security and has also altered the balance in state- society relation.

More importantly, he argued that armed banditry had impacted negatively on livestock

production in Nigeria. This is because livestock production tends to be not only

significant aspect of agriculture in Nigeria’s quest for diversification of economy, but, it

also had remained one of the alternative sources of economic growth in Nigeria.

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However, Egwu (2015), in another dimension explained some of the causes or reasons

proffered by the armed bandits or their apologies. They explained that the issue is of two

dimensions: they argued that, armed banditry and cattle rustling can be located properly

within the domains of the clashes between the dominant and the dominated. Here, this

can be explained in a way that the former denotes those rustlers who have turned rustling

into a criminal activity with hierarchical networks that connect the rustlers with markets

via an underground and undefined illegal business activities while the latter tends to

describe actors who are involved in cattle rustling within the rural economy as part of a

coping mechanism responding to socio-economic pressures.

The growing insecurity in the North and Zamfara State in particular has seriously

affected the state’s economic condition such that many people including businessmen are

fleeing to more peaceful environment in the southern parts of the country. Several

studies conducted have highlighted the impact of insurgency on socioeconomic growth

in the region. The literatures have some relationship to our current study and are

reviewed here.

Akowe and Kayode (2017), asserted that since banditry resumed its operations in

Nigeria, foreign direct investment (FDI) into Nigeria has plummeted. Citing the World

Investment Report (WIR) 2013, FDI flows into Nigeria dropped by 21.3 percent in just

one year from $8.9 billion in 2011 to $7 billion in 2012. He stated this substantial loss in

FDI over a short period of time will have many consequences for the country. Firstly,

FDI in Nigeria has a direct impact on trade, assuring progression of economic growth.

Secondly, FDI inflow supplements the available domestic capital by stimulating the

productivity of domestic investments. And lastly but most worrisome is the high co-

dependency ratio between the inflow of FDI, the Nigerian oil sector, and the country’s

13
GDP (Akowe & Kayode, 2017). In the same study, He made note of the rush to escape

from the north is also affecting business establishments in that region as banks were

reported to be closing down their outlets due to a decrease of economic activities in the

area. The massive withdrawal of businesses from the northern region constitutes a

reduction of economic affairs in the north as well as throwing those who are departing

from the north into financial and psychological pressures.

Urhie (2014), had, on the other hand conceptualized Armed Banditry as a wider scope of

extensive cattle rustling which comprises different forms of crimes; among which are the

highway robbery and gang- like invasion of settlements with a view to confiscate wealth

and properties. Urhie (2014), went ahead to posits that, these activities is usually

associated with societies suffering from social and economic upheavals and moreover,

it’s tenable where the structures and functioning of leadership and governance have

collapse or are insignificantly weakened. He further, emphasized that, this heinous act is

more common in rural areas and marginal communities.

In the same context, he argued that, Armed Banditry gained more prominence in recent

years due to the recent commercialization of livestock raiding in many countries such as

Somalia, Kenya, and Sothern Sudan among others. Urhie (2014). He also states that this

problem is more prevalent in the Middle belt and North-Western parts of Nigeria. He

stressed that, ethno- religious conflict had invariable provided a fertile ground for the

establishment and the entrenchment of these criminal activities in the country; especially

in the states like Plateau, Nassarawa, Benue. Urhie (2014), however, averred that, in state

like Kaduna, Zamfara, Katsina, Niger, among others, these activities are mostly carried

out by bandits mostly residing in remote rural areas and forest with active collaborators

in urban markets.

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Based on the above, Urhie (2014), explained that, the consequences and impact of armed

banditry in all the societies affected have led to the repeated and continual attacks and

killings of family heads in all the states. In addition, poverty and loss of livelihood are on

the rise, with women and children being the most victims. In fact, in some cases many

heads of households affected, have abandoned their families, and leaving women to

engage in excessive labor to cater for their families. Still on the same page, Urhie (2014)

in trying to make a strong case regarding the consequence of armed banditry in Nigeria,

explained that, farming activities in all those areas affected were seriously impaired due

to reduction in number of Animals use for traction and a greater reduction in the quantity

of manure production; this, had therefore, led to the reduction of crop yields.

In summing up his arguments, Urhie (2014), argued that, there is generally a linkage

between armed banditry, cattle rustling, and conflict between farmers and pastoralist.

This is because, as he believes that, it was usually the proceeds from cattle rustling that

were found to be usually used to purchase sophisticated weapons which had led to the

proliferation of arms by the rural bandits.

Apart from considering the issue of failed state, ethnicity and social differences some-

times deployed by the elites as tools to cause division and generate conflict among

various groups that hitherto lived harmoniously as some of the key reason for armed

banditry, Kilishi and Mobolaji (2016), emphasizes armed banditry to be linked to the

political economy problem which was tenable as a result of the absence in the equitable

access to resources coupled with deliberate agenda to exclude others from the societal

formation.

Kilishi and Mobolaji (2016), explained that, people faced with this heinous act, continue

to live in constant fear of attacks which as a result take away their human dignity and the

ability to organize, seeks and engage in the day to day livelihood. And, that, since armed

banditry usually led to the disruption of life; therefore, the desire to avoid strife and its

attendant consequences generally led to human displacement.

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Furthermore, in their discourse on armed banditry in Nigeria, Kilishi and Mobolaji

(2016), had, also highlighted the concept of the Crime Triangle. This said construct

explained that for a crime like rural banditry to occur three (3) things must be tenable

viz: there should be a motivated offender, in this case the rural banditry attracted by

cattle, goats and sheep. The cattle in particular, have high economic value and therefore

easily disposable. They also explained that some time abduction of women, girls and

boys could be part of the mix, An available and suitable target. Suitable target here, are

the un-protected citizens in rural Nigeria, no authority figure to prevent the attack from

taking place because many rural areas remained un-governed.

Perhaps, they explained that, the above triangle had generally exhibits the vulnerability

of the rural populace to attacks by armed bandits in Nigeria; this they attributed was all

facilitated due to the government absence in most rural areas in Nigeria.

Ameh (2018), stated that the impact of the horrific activities of bandit on the social

economic and political structure of Yobe State is over-whelming and devastating. Many

businesses in the state have been affected by the activities of the insurgence. He stated

that “Some shops have been taken over by the military personnel who have made it their

base, forcing the business owners to either relocate or abandon it totally. Small

businesses that use to strive in the night like Tea selling, restaurants, etc. are no longer

operating as a result of the security situation.” He also observed that Besides loss of job

occasioned by business closedown, insecurity in Adamawa, Borno, Yobe, Kano has cost

the Nigerian economy N1.3trillion ($6 billion) as a result of attacks by the Boko Haram

group (Ameh, 2018).

On the other hand, Asmau and Abdulrasheed (2020), opined that, armed banditry is both

a symptom and a cause of rural underdevelopment. They also argued that, Bandits are

usually seen in two perspectives. They were seen in most cases, as outlaws by the State

authorities, while in the second perspectives they were often viewed by peasants as those

16
who were able to defy a malfunctioning system and able to right the wrongs in the

society.

Their argument on the above, was based on the on the theory by Hosbawn (1959) who

proposed the construct of “social bandits”; in the said construct he opined that peasants

consider Bandits as their heroes, champion, avengers, fighters for justice, and even

leaders of liberation. Above all, they were seen as people to be admired, helped and

supported. In summary, their argument was an upshot from the definition of bandits by

White (1981) cited in Asmau and Abdulrasheed (2020) who define a bandit as a person

who has been forced to become an outlaw by robbing from rich and giving to the poor.

Hence, this definition had conspicuously described a bandit as someone preoccupied

with seeking revenge on behalf of the masses or some sorts of society’s under classes.

In the opinion of Igbuzor (2017), in which they centralized rural banditry as a

consequences of the intense competition between farmers and pastoralist Fulani groups

over the arable land and water resources. In their analysis, they explained that this factor

was not exclusively restricted to the northern part of Nigeria but, had recently manifested

also, in the southern part of Nigeria.

In another part of their argument for the tenability of rural banditry in Nigeria, which

they consider more worrisome and disturbing, Igbuzor (2017), affirmed that, the seeming

incapacity of the state to effectively control and exercise authority over its territorial

jurisdiction. This is because, as they argued, the relative absence or the in adequacy of

the security and administrative structures of governments, coupled with the apparent lack

of social amenities in the rural areas; while urban areas enjoyed in relative the greater

presence of amenities. Hence, according to them, social disparity provides adequate

room for the emergence and sustenance of banditry in Nigeria.

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Some scholars had, differently contextualized armed banditry in the context of identity

politics that was Germaine by mutual suspicion between the pastoralist and the local

farmers. By this trends, some proffered that, often times, armed bandit disguised as

Fulani herders and wreaked havoc in several rural communities, to this scholars, the

trend had generally strained the existing ancestral relationship between communities that

have shared the same ecology, environmental resources, and habitat amicably for several

generations (Igbuzor, 2017).

Addo (2016), investigated the operations of bandits and its consequences on Nigeria’s

political and socio-economic arrangement as a whole. The study faults the sudden

development of banditry on the government inability to governance the civil society as

well as the acts of some development partners. The methodology used for type of

research was a qualitative one and relies more on the secondary form of data collection,

and the theoretical inclinations of thrust links with Ted theory of Relative Deprivation

which is not the one to be used in this study. The theory notes that the people of

Northeast feel highly deprived in the scheme of things in Nigeria as a collective arm. The

study recommended that, since development cannot take place in an insecure

environment, there must be the full entrenchment of good governance, the military must

be adequately strengthened, and poverty must be eradicated to reverse the harmful

effects of the insurgency in the country. The study of Addo (2016), use a different

approach in terms of theoretical framework compared to the one intended for this study.

Maurin and Blessing (2018) in their study dealt with the implication of insurgency on

Nigeria economic growth. The study proceeded with the assessment of the implication of

insurgency on Nigerian economic growth and use secondary source of data collection

which was then run in OLS regression and used to analyze the data. In the study, Gross

domestic product was the dependent variable, and it proxies on economic growth, while

18
human development index, Global peace index, corruption rank, corruption perception

index and relative corruption rank proxies’ insurgency was the independent variable. The

result of the findings indicated that there is a linear relationship between GDP and the

five independent variables. They stated that the economy responds favorably to measures

taken to improve human capital development in Nigeria. The study also showed that the

negative impact the of insurgency has critically brought a downturn in economic

performance in general. They recommended that the government discourage the

attractiveness of public offices by running a low cost government and invest more in

public goods for the benefit of her citizens and public offices should be less attractive,

proactive measure should be put in place to tackle insurgency both tactically and

institutionally. Lastly, the military must be strengthened.

In essence, all the above postulations by these scholars were actually tenable in armed

banditry proliferation in Zamfara State. However, at any rate, this paper intends to be a

step ahead to diagnoses how banditry impacted negatively to the socio-economic

development leading to displacement of persons in Zamfara State.

2.3 Conclusion

Despite a plethora of literature on banditr, and its impact on different aspects of Nigerian

economy, politics, culture, and social interactions, there was nothing on how the

economic, political and social dimensions of lifestyles of people of Zamfara state, who

experience violent and deadly attacks on regular basis have been impacted. Neither was

there anything on the sufficiency and adequacy of victim relief and support system. This

study will not only contribute to the body of knowledge but provide an understanding of

the economic, social and political impact of banditry on the people of Zamfara State who

experienced (and still experience) lived exposures to acts of banditry on a regular basis.

19
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 CHAPTER THREE

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY AREA

3.1 Introduction

This chapter analyses the historical background of Zamfara state. The geographical

boundaries, people, history of Insecurity in Zamfara State before the study period and

governance and development in Zamfara State will be analysed

3.2 Geography, Boundaries (or Borders) and People (Including their activities)

of Zamfara State

Fig. 1: Map of Zamfara State (Source: Wikipedia, 2021)

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Zamfara State is located in the northwestern part of Nigeria with a land area of

38,418sqkm; it has a population of 9,278,873 according to the 2006 census and contains

fourteen local government areas (Mustapha, 2019).

Zamfara is mostly populated with the Hausa and Fulani people. The Zamfarawa mainly

in Anka, Gummi, Bukkuyum and Talata Mafara Local Governments areas. Gobirawa

populated Shinkafi Local Government. Gobirawa actually migrated from the Gobir

Kingdom. Burmawa are found in Bakura and Fulani peopled Bungudu, Maradun, Gusau

and are scattered all over the State. In Chafe, Bungudu and Maru, most are mainly

Katsinawa, Garewatawa and Hadejawa. While Alibawa peopled Kaura Namoda and

Zurmi

It borders Niger Republic, Katsina State, Kebbi State and Sokoto State in the north, east,

west and northwest respectively. It is bordered to the north by the Republic of the Niger,

to the south by Kaduna State, to the east by Katsina State, and to the west by the states of

Sokoto and Niger. It has a population of 9,278,873 according to the 2006 census and

contains fourteen local government areas (Mustapha, 2019).

Agriculture and gold mining are the main occupations of the people of the state and the

central source of income. The state is basically an agricultural state with over 80 percent

of the people engaged in various forms of agriculture. Major agricultural products

include millet, guinea corn, maize, rice, groundnut, cotton, tobacco and beans. In 2009,

gold mining became a greater source of income in Zamfara State as worldwide gold

prices rose dramatically. Agriculture i.e. farming and cattle rearing is the most important

occupation of the people of the state, hence its slogan “farming is our pride” (Mustapha,

2019).

22
The occupation of the people of the state is primarily farming. They produce both food

crops and cash crops. Zamfara State is mainly populated by Hausa and Fulani people,

with some members of Gwari, Kamuku, Kambari, Dukawa, Bussawa and Zabarma

ethnic communities. Basically for the Fulani people, they are mostly engaged in cattle

rearing while the Hausa engage in food and cash crops mostly. The state capital is an

important commercial center with a heterogeneous population of people from all over

Nigeria. As in all major towns in Nigeria, all the major towns in Zamfara have a large

population of other peoples from different parts of Nigeria.

3.3 History of Insecurity in Zamfara State before the STUDY PERIOd

According to Abubakar (2021), The genesis of armed banditry in Zamfara State started

with the killing of One Alh. Ishe a Fulani leader by ‘Yansakai, who was recognized by

the Fulanis in Zamfara, Kebbi and Sokoto States. He resides at Chilin village of

Kuyunbana District in Dansadau Emirate. After the killing of Alh. Ishe, the Fulanis

communities felt aggrieved and resorted to violent reprisal attacks on “Yansakai group

and other Hausa communities. The incidental killing of Alh. Ishe occurred on Thursday

11th April, 2013. Since then Fulanis started to organize themselves into an armed

banditry camps with sole intent of revenging the gruesome for murder of their leader.

They established many camps across the 14 Local Government Areas and Emirate

Councils levels as Buharin Daji as their overall leader. These camps operated during the

immediate past administration and was not timely tackled most apparently (Abubakar,

2021).

These armed bandits operated in a network linking one operational camp to another

when attacking targeted Communities in a group of 100 on motorcycles at most time.

These camps operated during the immediate past administration and was not timely

23
tackled most apparently, the neglect caused the mayhem by the present administration.

The Security agents according to an intelligent research conducted along specified

routes, adopted a strategy aimed at checkmating the activities of armed bandits along the

routes.

24
3.4 Governance and Development in Zamfara State

Zamfara state like every other northern state and states in Nigeria is managed by the state

government and the local government at the grass root. Zamfara as a kingdom has

districts and villages with emirs and head leaders. The development of the state is

divided into ministries and agencies led by the state governor. Prior to this point,

Zamfara was known for poverty, underdevelopment, banditry and crisis, but recently the

state is wearing a new look with the present development strides of the present

administration despite insecurity challenge (Abubakar, 2021).

3.5 Conclusion

The activities of rural bandits who are suspected to be remnants of rebel soldiers from

Chad, Niger or Cameroon may be explained by Merton’s Strain theory since it is

believed that when job opportunities dry up, the resultant strain may lead to crime,

especially in a post war era. The armed bandits suspected to be from neighboring

countries who were engaged in the various internecine wars that have come to an end

have no option than to use their training and weapons to earn a living, thus engaging in

acts of armed banditry. While it is true that not everyone who is unable to utilise

legitimate means to attain legitimate ends will engage in acts of armed banditry, it is also

true that most people will, given the availability of arms at their disposal coupled with

poverty and mass unemployment, particularly among the youths.

25
 CHAPTER FOUR

RURAL BANDITRY, ORIGIN AND PATTERNS (2011 – 2021)

4.1 Introduction

Zamfara had been the most peaceful State throughout the Federation since its creation in

1996. However, the State started to experience some potent security challenges involving

destructions of lives and property of innocent citizens including cattle rustling,

kidnappings and demand for ransom as well as other forms of criminalities.

The ugly trend persisted to an alarming levels resulting to consequences through leaving

behind sizeable number of widows and orphans. Other negative consequences caused the

State by the banditry activities were social and economical. The socio economic situation

of the State and indeed citizens were adversely affected.

4.2 Overview of Rural Banditry in Zamfara State

Since after the 2011 general elections in Nigeria, Zamfara has been battling with

multiple number of crises ranging from political violence, election crises, communal

clashes, cattle rustling, armed banditry and now abduction and human kidnapping. This

critical situation hitting the state for the past seven years has being a source of concern to

the security situation of the state especially with the multi-dynamic nature of the way the

conflict is taking advance stage. Citizens of the state since when the conflict of cattle

rustling started has made the security and safety of the state citizen highly vulnerable

leading to the forceful migration of hundreds of thousands of people who exited the state

for the fear of the unknown (Abubakar, 2021).

26
The source of this conflict in Zamfara and identity of these hoodlums has never being

ascertained yet, hence the government and other security agencies give conflicting

account of the actual cause of the conflict. Before the current situation, many

stakeholders argued that, the cause of the conflict is cattle rustling which led to reprisal

attacks on Fulani herders by the organized vigilante Tukur (2018). Others said the

unending reprisal attacks against some Fulani herders instigate the conflict hence the

Fulani herdsmen having becoming helpless in the hand of the organized vigilante

resorted to inviting external support from their peers in the neighboring states of Chad

and Cameroun (Mustapha, 2019).

Others argued that, when the conflict become highly tensed some hidden elites take

advantage of the security situation to create additional crack in to the conflict by turning

the situation in an act of militia and now human abduction and kidnapping Balarabe

(2018). From 2011 to date not fewer than three thousand people were allegedly killed

even as thousands of numbers of others were injured, married women have been

abducted, raped and impregnated. This created additional states of uncertainty as

hundreds of residents and households resorted to embarking on forceful migration due to

the fear of the unknown. A field estimate have it that, over seventy six communities

across fourteen local government areas of Zamfara state have been deserted by its

residents due to the consequences of armed banditry attack or notice of possible attack

(Jaafar, 2018). While this tragedy has continue to cause the people and government of

Zamfara state sleepless night, the situation has taken an advance level when dozens of

cases of abduction and human kidnapping are recorded in almost virtually all local

governments across Zamfara state. Field estimate has shown that, over one hundred

people have been either kidnapped or abducted in demand for millions of naira as

27
ransom. Jaafar (2018), argued, in Dansadau axis of the state alone, record from the rural

persons has shown that, over fifty two people have been abducted and kidnapped by

these suspected bandits within a couple fifty days. He further argued that, at one time,

forty two people were collectively kidnapped before the government initiated a deal to

get them released and re-united with their families

Rural banditry has recently attracted the attention of most security experts in the country.

At the inception of this insecurity both the state government and other stake holders

underestimated the threat it may likely cause to human security. Within the span of five

years (2011-2016) rural banditry has transformed itself into the most dangerous security

threat the state has ever witnessed in the past. This is partly because of the involvement

of what we called ‘the shadow actors’ behind the conflict. Shadow actors here mean all

those forces responsible for fueling the conflict from behind. Some experts on security

studies also called them the perpetrators, referring to the agents or factors contributing or

instigating the conflict. Rural banditry has remained a hydra headed monster in Zamfara

compared to other states in the federation due to its complex nature and the involvement

of those actors who significantly benefit materially from the conflict. This brings us to

the political economy of rural banditry and cattle rustling in the state, where some few

individuals promote the conflict for selfish gains (Abdulkabir, 2017).

The most pertinent question often asked by most observers is that what benefits do these

hidden actors derived from rural insecurity in the state, a question which this paper also

attempts to address. The paper derives most of its sources from the subalterns, the

downtrodden and victims of banditry in the state. There is no opportunity to have a

balance perception and opinion from both sides because the actors are really

inaccessible. Where they were reached and interviewed about the situation of things they

28
argued that all the statements and facts presented by the other side are false insinuations.

At any rate the role of the historian is to call a spate a spate and presents the facts as they

really are. It is left for the reader to separate the ‘grain from the chaff’. Part of the

preliminary findings of the paper is that, rural banditry in Zamfara only used cattle

rustling as a cover up, thus the facts remain that the elites in the state recruited and used

the bandits to achieve their selfish political and economic interest. Therefore, this article

explains the role of the ‘shadow actors’ such as the state government, traditional rulers,

Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, (MACBAN) and informants in

facilitating rural banditry in Zamfara state.

4.2.1 Origin of Zamfara Conflict

A Historical Over-view As highlighted earlier in the introduction, the origin of Zamfara

conflict could be traced to the brutal murder of a suspected Fulani herder at Chile market

by some members of organized vigilante group as reprisal attack in 2011. Though it was

one action against an accused, the implication of what happened at Chile sent a wrong

signal to other organized vigilante groups along Dansadau forest and several other places

who resorted to applying similar strategy of killing any suspected Fulani herder who is

on their track list (Abubakar, 2021).

Jabir (2018) argued, when the Fulani men were openly murdered in an open market at

Chile the government and indeed the security agencies failed to take appropriate steps of

managing the new development until when it became an order of the day. Every day you

had that, some suspected Fulani herder is arrested in a weekly market and killed

gruesomely by the members of the organized vigilante group. This situation become

tensed with the murder of about twenty five Fulani herders at Dangulbi, Dankurmi,

Nasarawar Godal and Kasuwar Daji markets from 2011 to 2015. Since the incident at

29
Chile the security situation along Dansadau forest and other critical areas of Zamfara

state changes dramatically with the series of attacks launched in more than one hundred

communities in Zamfara state. Lawal (2018) argued, since when the conflict started in

2011, over one hundred communities and settlements have been either invaded or

attacked by the suspected bandits and hundreds of lives and properties have been lost to

this tragedy. The consequences of the conflict have not only resulted to loss of lives and

properties, but it affected almost virtually all aspect of the socio-economic and political

development of the state. It has influenced forceful migration of hundreds of Fulani

herders with their cattle and other livestock out of Zamfara due to the fear of the

unknown. Tukur (2014) argued, Zamfara has loss over one hundred Fulani settlements to

this conflict even as over one fourty two thousand herds of cattle have been moved out of

the state. The implication of the exit of the Fulani and their cattle out of Zamfara led to

scarcity of cattle and increase in the price meat in the market. Muhammad (2018) argued,

the price at which we normally buy cattle and slaughter for sales in the market has

almost doubled instead of going to Talatar-Mafara, Shinkafi or Gummi markets to secure

cattle at a cheaper and affordable prices, one has to travel as per as Adamawa and Niger

states to procure them. Imagine what it will take someone to procure and transport cattle

from this per distance to Zamfara and sales meat to the people.

4.3 Actors and Parties of the Conflicts

The actors are divided into two; the visible and shadow actors. The visible actors are

believed to be the Hausa and the Fulani groups fighting against each other with the

premise of history while the Shadow actors here mean all those forces responsible for

fueling the conflict from behind. Some experts on security studies also called them the

perpetrators, referring to the agents or factors contributing or instigating the conflict.

30
Rural banditry has remained a hydra headed monster in Zamfara compared to other states

in the federation due to its complex nature and the involvement of those actors who

significantly benefit materially from the conflict. This brings us to the political economy

of rural banditry and cattle rustling in the state, where some few individuals promote the

conflict for selfish gains. Rural banditry in Zamfara used cattle rustling as a cover up,

thus the facts remain that the elites in the state recruited and used the bandits to achieve

their selfish political and economic interest. Therefore, this research explains the

‘shadow actors’ as the state government, traditional rulers, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders

Association of Nigeria, (MACBAN), international interest communities, border nations,

states and informants in facilitating rural banditry in Zamfara state

4.4 Conclusion

It is argued that, banditry was indeed a significant African phenomenon embedded in

rural societies, and that bandits are recognized as such by rural dwellers. Local languages

have specific terms for bandits and if the ‘criminals’ in question are not locally

recognized as bandits and labeled as such African Languages, then they are not bandits.

The youth population in Nigeria estimated to be 25 million which is economically,

socially and politically deprived are among the main perpetrators of armed criminality

and ‘gangsterism’ (Centre for International Cooperation and Security, 2005:14). The

youth seem to play a critical role in any community and once they are impoverished and

marginalized by economic and social realities, they become available and ready to be

mobilized. They can therefore offer their services to the highest bidder, and can be easily

manipulated.

31
 CHAPTER FIVE

IMPACT OF RURAL BANDITRY ON SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN

ZAMFARA STATE (2011 - 2021)

5.1 Introduction

Any form of violence that leads to insecurity in both rural and urban areas is bound to

affect the socio-economic development in that particular region. In Nigeria and Zamfara

in particular, the Federal Government has realized that banditry has posed a serious

threat to the socio economic development of the state, various forms of insecurity have

negative impacts on the socio economy development of the state. This bandit portends

danger to food security as many farmers are very scared to go to their farms to engage in

irrigation farming among other food producing activities. The implications of the

impacts means that there is reduction in the number of farmers due to their killings, there

is impoverishment of farmers due to kidnappings, farmers are not willing to go to their

farmlands as they will be chased out, cattle rearing has become difficult, there is

reduction in the quantity of crops stored in grain silos, there are risks of attacks when

farmers visit local weekly markets and many farmers have become dependent on food

provided either at IDP camps or at the houses of friends and relatives. These clearly

indicate the negative impacts of banditry on socio-economic development in Zamfara

state.

Adagba, Ugwu & Eme (2018)classify the impact of banditry into socio-economic

impact, rural development impacts and impacts on lives and properties

5.2 Socio-economic Impact of Rural Banditry in Zamfara State

32
The undesired migration of Fulani and their cattle out of some affected areas in Zamfara

to neighboring countries of Niger has serious socio-economic implications for the

country. Tukur (2017) as cited in Anka (2017) noted that it cost a whole lot of money

coupled with stress/risk to import cows from neighboring countries for consumption,

aside from dairy and manure for farming activities.

Socio-economic development has been brought to its knees by these acts of banditry

especially in Zamfara and other neighboring states. Mahmud (2019) noted that schools

have been destroyed and so most students do not go to school. Parents are not able to

send their children to far school due to fear of being kidnapped or killed by the armed

bandits. Mahmud further noted that socio-economic activities have been crippled as

people are living in constant fear of the unknown.

Cases of rape have continued to be on the increase and constitute another setback in the

socio-economic development of the affected areas. Badaru (2017) argued that since

2014, there have been recorded cases of rape along the Dansadau forest by the armed

bandits.

(iii) Onuah and Akwagyram (2019), reported that mining activities have been suspended

in Zamfara due to frequent attacks by armed bandits. The implication of the suspension

is that revenue generated through mining in the state has been cut off, and this may likely

affect economic activities in the country.

5.3 Rural Development Impacts

The consequences of the conflict have not only resulted to loss of lives and properties,

but it affected almost virtually all aspect of the socio-economic and political

development of the state. It has influenced forceful migration of hundreds of Fulani

33
herders with their cattle and other livestock out of Zamfara due to the fear of the

unknown. Tukur (2014) argued, Zamfara has loss over one hundred Fulani settlements to

this conflict even as over one fourty two thousand herds of cattle have been moved out of

the state. The implication of the exit of the Fulani and their cattle out of Zamfara led to

scarcity of cattle and increase in the price meat in the market. Muhammad (2018) argued,

the price at which we normally buy cattle and slaughter for sales in the market has

almost doubled instead of going to Talatar-Mafara, Shinkafi or Gummi markets to secure

cattle at a cheaper and affordable prices, one has to travel as per as Adamawa and Niger

states to procure them. Imagine what it will take someone to procure and transport cattle

from this per distance to Zamfara and sales meat to the people.

The crises also lead to the increasing hunger and shortage of food as majority of those

affected are rural people whose pre-occupation is mainly farming. Since 2014, the victim

communities have been voicing out their fear that, the bandits have been threatening

their effort to embark on their annual farming activities as many were shot dead by the

bandits on their farms. Wadatau (2018) argued, eighty percent of farmers at Dagulbi,

Dankurmi and their neighboring villages could not farm their lands for the past five

consecutive years because they have been sent warning notice and some of those who

defy the warning were killed by these bandits. The development caused not only

shortage of food but increasing hunger among people as hardly people find food of

nutritional value to eat. Our people are dying of hunger as both the government and

wealthy individuals in the cities have left us at our own faith, Umar (2018).

Health care management has almost become paralyzed hence the medical health facilities

have been abandoned by the professional health personals because of their safety. Lawal

(2018) argued, as I speak to you, if you exclude General Hospital Dansadau and

Dangulbi, our people have to travel to Gusau or nearby local government to access

34
medical help as no health worker is willing to risk his life and stay with us in the

villages. Our pregnant women die of absence of basic primary health care support caused

by the unending tragedy that befalls us.

Not only health care system, education had also suffered hence majority of the schools

that were either constructed or renovated by the government have been abandoned by the

teachers. Even where the teachers opted to stay some of the pupils are not able to pay the

schools because their breadwinners were either killed or incapacitated by the deadliest

attacks of these bandits,

Mammam (2015) argued, when attack in Yargaladima was perfected we had to shut

down our only primary school in the village hence those that are providing the primary

financial support to be paying salaries to teachers were all killed in the attack. We used

to contribute three hundred naira per child to raise fourty five thousand naira as salary to

the three NCE teachers we employed to teach our children and among us there are those

with three-five children and majority of them are killed and even before the attack,

government constructed two blocks of six class rooms and for the past three years we

had been agitating for deployment of teachers but that has failed. And now that over one

hundred households are killed to the most tragic attack in our community we had to shut

down the school completely.

Added to this negative development recorded for the past seven years is the emergence

of human kidnapping and abduction that befall almost every parts of the state. Since the

beginning of the year 2018, the attention of every citizen of Zamfara has been shifted to

the menace of human abduction and kidnapping. Munnir (2018) argued, if there is any

calamity that this tragedy of banditry has caused Zamfara people is the proliferation of

armed banditry and human kidnapping as over two hundred people are either abducted or

35
kidnapped for ransom. Here in Kaura Namoda it has become a daily thing hardly a day

comes since February 2018 without one or two person being kidnapped and millions of

naira is being demanded as ransom.

Although, the causal factors for banditry and terrorism differ, both phenomenon locally

thrived on exploiting the fragile or weak State capacity evident in human rights abuses,

inequality, poor service provision and unemployment. While banditry, predominantly in

the North-West contrasts the predominance of violent extremism in the North-East, both

constitute a common thread of the overlapping nature and characteristics of organized

crime as well as its mirrored impact on peace and human security in the affected States²⁰.

Beyond this, it further poses significant challenges to focused strategies to counter

Violent Extremist which increasingly requires broader initiatives to address organised

crime. For instance, cattle rustling attributed to bandits is also a strategy applied by Boko

Haram to support their operations. In addition, robbery and kidnapping constitute a

dominant criminal enterprise that are similar in the operations of bandits and extremist

groups.

Another commonality is the tactical use of difficult and often inaccessible operational

terrains by State security such as the use of Sambisa forest by Boko Haram and the

reported use of Falgore, Kamara, Kunduma, Sububu, Kamuku and Kiyanbana forests by

bandits. It offers opportunity for quick retreat and buffer for their attacks within the axis

of their operations. In the light of this, the exigencies of banditry, insurgency and

counter-insurgency have transformed the forests areas into highly militarized and

securitized zones, stalling socio-economic development in the affected States. c. Social

Dislocation and Internal Displacements One of the most visible impacts of armed

banditry in the North West involves internal displacement of community residents.

36
According to a 2019 report issued by the United Nations High Commissioner for

Refugees (UNHCR) and the Nigerian Government, over 200,000 persons were internally

displaced in several communities of Zamfara, Katsina and Sokoto States between

January-August 2019. Majority of these IDPs were women, children and the elderly

taking refuge in neighbouring Republic of Niger, Cameroun and Chad. Reports obtained

from the Zamfara State Government revealed that banditry led to an estimated 22,000

widows and 44, 000 orphans in Zamfara State since 2011.

Provision of humanitarian assistance for the displaced persons and communities in the

North-West was a complex humanitarian challenge due to the enormity of communities

affected. Factors arising from irregular and/or zero food distribution, inappropriate

shelters, poor medical services and facilities, among others, were evident in some

internally displaced camps in the host States. A survey conducted in some assessed

locations in Zamfara State have revealed that 70% of the displaced population expressed

irregular food distribution at the IDP camps.

Nevertheless, the interventions of local and international agencies in the provision of

relief materials and health care delivery further complemented Government efforts to

displaced persons. As affected States continue to record a decline in violent attacks, as

shown in the graph above, an estimated 25,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPS) out

of the 37,000 IDPs in Zamfara State had reintegrated to the communities as at August

2019. According to the Zamfara State Emergency Management Agency (ZEMA), the

remaining 12,000 IDPS were in host communities in Katsina, Kaduna, Kebbi, Sokoto

and some parts of Niger Republic. A challenge for these outstanding IDPs is how to

return to their communities having lost their properties and livelihood from violent

attacks and fears of reoccurrence.

37
The criminal activities perpetuated by bandits in the North West heightened the

vulnerability of women and girls in the region. Some women in the affected communities

were faced with early widowhood or death of their children, while some children were

orphaned and forced to flee their villages for safety. This remains a critical human

security concern as they also suffer varied forms of Sexual and Gender Based Violence

(SGBV). Several cases of rape by bandits were reported in Katsina and Niger State.

There were reports of SGBV amongst the displaced. In a field assessment conducted in

Zamfara State, using 'Focus Group Discussion' (FGD), 'community members and leaders

had highlighted high incidence of SGBV including rape and forced marriage specifically

targeted at women and young girls due to the presence and activities of bandits in rural

areas.

Further reports have revealed that the highest risk faced by children in the affected

communities is abduction, as majority of the children are abducted for ransom while

female children are abducted for sex and others for child labour. This mostly occurred

when collecting firewood, on the way to the market or during village attacks. Despite

being victims of violence, women were also perpetrators. They disguise as food vendors

to provide bandits with information and are also suppliers/carriers of weapons, drugs and

other basic needs for the bandits.

In May 2019, the Katsina State Police Command arrested four women serving as

informants and cooking for bandits in the State. The peace dialogue initiated by State

Governors in the North-West region however yielded positive results, as kidnapped

women and children were released by the bandits in Katsina and Zamfara States. In a

report issued by the Zamfara State Commissioner of Security and Home Affairs, the

38
peace and reconciliation initiative led to the release of 525 hostages including women

and children.

Impact on Education Education deprivation in the North-West region has been

exacerbated by armed banditry due to the mass displacements in affected communities.

However, the escalation of banditry contributed to a high number of out-of-school

children in the region. Out of the 10.5 million out-of-school children in Nigeria, 30

percent are in the North-West (Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi, Kano) and Niger States

in the North Central region⁴⁰. Besides, insecurity in the communities had a negative

impact on young boys and girls, as school activities in vulnerable areas were disrupted.

The few existing schools were unable to operate properly for fear of kidnap of students

or attacks and killing by bandits. Parents prevented their children from attending schools

due to insecurity on major roads. This in turn increased the job turnover of teachers in

these communities.

A failed attack by bandits in schools was recorded on May 1, 2019, at the Government

Girls Secondary School in Zuru LGA of Zamfara State. Also, a 'threat note' to shut down

a Government Day Secondary School at Talata Mafara LGA of Zamfara State had

further created tension as students and teachers stayed away from the school. This

situation further exposes children to the risk of exploitation and violence. Effects on

Livelihoods and Food Security The insecurity in the North-West region also impacted

negatively on the exploitation of environmental resources (e.g. gold mining), thus

affecting the livelihood and development potentials in the affected States.

The presence of lucrative gold deposits in Zamfara State attracted artisanal mining

activities, as bandits and families depended on it for livelihood sustenance. Nevertheless,

the gold is smuggled and traded in the global market constituting a loss revenue for the

39
Nigeria economy. The erstwhile Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Alhaji

Abubakar Bawa Bwari, had revealed that between 2016 and 2018, Nigeria lost 353

billion naira from the illicit activities of gold miners and smugglers. Though artisanal

mining has been linked to economic benefits including informal employment, the poor

standards of extraction resulted in land degradation, pollution of water sources and health

risk. In 2010 and 2013, the State recorded an outbreak of 'lead poisoning' epidemic due

to illicit mining activities resulting in a death toll of 734 children below the ages of 5

years old.

Given the fact that farming is the mainstay of the local economies, the disruption in

farming due to bandit attacks affect agricultural productivity with serious implications

for food security. Majority of the farming communities were forced to abandon their

farms especially areas in proximity to the forest areas, as bandits exploited these

locations to attack communities. Few farmers who stayed behind were subjected to

taxation by the bandits before accessing their farms. About 30% of agricultural land in

Kaduna State was abandoned by affected communities, while farming activities in

Zamfara and Katsina States were restricted to few areas thus resulting in a decline in

food production by 60%.

In Kebbi State, over 350 rice farmers were affected with farmlands abandoned as a result

of bandit attacks.

However, the dwindling income of local farmers and other vulnerable groups especially

women, also affect their capacity to support children's education and household income.

g. Wider Economic Costs The flow of illicit firearms in communities of North-West

region is also a cause for security concern. Apart from fatalities recorded, bandits' attacks

on communities increased social risks, discouraged investment and triggered economic

40
crises for individuals and communities. The conflict is causing a spill over effect on

other neighbouring communities and local government areas of Niger State in the North-

Central region, hindering inter-communal and inter-state trade.

The insecurity has a significant impact on other economic activities in the region, as a

number of major local markets such as IIella, Dandume, Maidabino, Kankara (Katsina

State) and Bardoki, Shinkafi (Zamfara State) markets have been shut down due to

incessant attacks. The strategic nature of the trading locations made them attractive to

major merchants from across other regions of the country for foodstuff including maize,

millet, guinea corn and beans. However, the proximity of these markets to the forest

reserves made them vulnerable to attacks. This had an adverse effect on trading

activities, as revenue generation and market sales/supplies in the markets declined.

A revenue officer in Katsina State had revealed that 'trailers of foodstuff at the market

reduced from eight (8) trailers weekly to half a truck in two months', while the revenue

earning reduced from 500,000 naira to less than 100,000 naira. According to the 2019

report on food insecurity and market by Famine Early Warning Systems Network

(FEWS NET), Shinkafi market, a major cross border town in Zamfara State, functioned

between 30 to 40 percent within the reviewed period, while Dandume market in Katsina

State functioned lower by 15 to 25 percent relative to normal trading projections as

shown in the map below. With the ongoing peace initiatives and negotiated peace deals

with bandits, economic and farming activities have gradually resumed with communities

and markets relatively secured for displaced returnees.

5.4 Impacts on Lives and Properties

On 26 February 2021, 279 girls were abducted from their boarding school located in

Jangebe, Zamfara during the Zamfara kidnapping. More than 850 students have been

41
abducted since December but most have been released after ransom payments. In a

broadcast, Zamfara state Governor Bello Matawalle urged residents to defend themselves

against “killer bandits”. A decade-old armed campaign in the northeast has killed more

than 30,000 people and forced at least two million to flee their homes, creating one of the

worst humanitarian crises in the world. Nearly 700,000 people were internally displaced

in northwest and north central Nigeria in February, including more than 124,000 in

Zamfara alone, according to the UN’s migration agency, IOM. Humanitarian agencies

also warn that the spiralling violence has led to increased sexual violence, as gunmen

assault some of their kidnapped victims.

On 26 February 2021, many motorcycle-riding gunmen known locally as bandits on

Thursday through Friday raided the villages of Kadawa, Kwata, Maduba, Ganda Samu,

Saulawa and Askawa in the Zurmi district, AFP news agency cited the sources as saying

on Saturday. The gang shot residents, attacked farmers in their fields and pursued others

who fled to escape the assaults.

Zamfara police spokesman Mohammed Shehu said 14 bodies had been taken to the state

capital Gusau on Friday, and added that “policemen were deployed in the area following

the attacks.” Local residents said 39 more bodies had been recovered and buried in the

neighbouring town of Dauran. “We recovered 28 bodies yesterday and 11 more this

morning from the villages and buried them here,” said Dauran resident Haruna

Abdulkarim. “It was dangerous to conduct the funeral there because the bandits are

harbouring in the Zurmi forest and could return to attack the funeral,” said another

resident, Musa Arzika, who reported the same death toll. Villages in the Zurmi district

have been repeatedly raided by bandits, and local residents blocked a major highway last

week, calling on the authorities to end the attacks.

42
Mustapha (2019), Noted that Kidnapping of farmers is devastating impact of banditry

where farmers were kidnapped when they go to the farm to work. In case where famers

were kidnapped, they were taken to the forest and will not be released till large sums of

moneys are paid as ransom. This payment of ransom impoverishes the famers and in

some cases the farmers had no option but to sell their properties including their

farmlands to get money to pay ransom. In Filinga some of the farmers in the villages

sold their farmlands to buy a house at Dandume town to escape kidnapping.

One of the most recent cases of kidnapping was at Tsabre on 4th October 2020, where 22

farmers working on the farmlands were kidnapped while some managed to escape

(Ibrahim, 2020). One of the farmers that narrowly escaped lamented that: “In these

villages, we depend mostly on two things as source of livelihood farming and cattle

rearing. Farming has become difficult due to insecurity. Domestic animal rearing has

also become difficult as bandits have rustled our cattle and presently they are abducting

us on our farms. Am calling on the government to come to our aid as we cannot migrate

to the cities since we have no job to do in the cities and all that we have are in the

villages. Anybody that is used to village life cannot stay in the city as the city consumes

wealth”.

This tables show the estimate of financial losses as a result of rural banditry in Zamfara

state. The table highlights the impact of rural banditry on lives and property of the people

of Zamfara state.

Table 1: Estimated Number of Livestock Rustled in the State in 2016 alone

Areas Number of Livestock

1 Badarawa Over 200
2 Bagega Over 4,500
3 Dorayi Over 2500
4 Filinga Over 5,000
5 Gidan Kaso 1,455
6 Guru 270

43
 7 Jangeme Over 600
8 Kizara Over 4,000
9 Lilo 90
10 Lingyado Over 2,100
11 Madaba 106
12 Nasarawa Godal Over 1000
13 Nasarawa Mai Layi Over 500
14 Rukudawa 250
15 Shigama and Kwokeya 1,020
16 Tsabre Over 3,500
17 Tungar Baushe 1,110
18 Unguwar Galadima 850
19 'Yar gada 230
Source: MACBAN 2016

44
 Table 2. Shows the estimated loss of lives and properties as a result of rural banditry

S/N DATE INCIDENT CASUALTY

2021 January to date Attacks, abduction More than 500 dead

2020 Attacks, abduction More than 820 dead

2019 Attcks , abduction More than 601 dead

2018 February 14th Attack on Villagers travelling on Truck to 41 Dead

Birane Village.
January 18th Gun men attack Gora Village in Maradun 6 Dead, 4 injured, 2
abducted

2017 September 22nd Gun men attack Tsafe Town 1 dead

January 26th
Suspected herdsmen killed one person in 1 dead
Magazu in an attempt to find one Rabo who
allegedly stole their Cattle

2016 November 19th Gun men attacked Dole, Tudun Bugaje and 25 dead
Kwangami Villages in Zurmi.
November 18th Gunmen Rustle Cattle in Maru Local 40 abducted
November 7th Government 40 killed
Gun men attack Gold Miners at a mining
November 6th Camp in Maru. 10 dead
Gun men attack traders from Kanoma Village
May 5th in Maru Local Government Council Casualty unconfirmed
February 6th Gun men invaded Madada Village 50 dead, cattle stolen, houses
RuwanTofa burnt.
Gun men attacked Kwanar Dutse Village in
Maru Local government Council.

2015 July Gun men attacked Kokeya and Chigama 30 plus dead and hundreds
of cattle rustle

2014 September Gun Men Killed people at Akuzo, Zarfarawa, 33 dead

Girke, Kofa, Kundubau, Wonaka, Fura Girke,
FeginMahe, Kukar Gwandu, Kanawa Lafiya
and Gora Villages.
April 6th Suspected Gun Men attacked Yargaladima 200 dead
Village of Maru Local government Council.

2013 September 30th Gunmen attacked Buzuzu Village in 3dead

Bukkuyum Local government Council
July-September Summary of people killed and abducted as 160dead, 10 abducted
stated by the State Governor
June 18th GunMen attacked Kizara Village In Tsafe 48 dead

2012 December 14th Gun men attacked Rukudawa Village in 10 dead

Zurmi Local government Council
October 30th Gunmen attacked Kaboro Village in 20 dead

45
 DansadauMaru Local government Council
June 11th Gunmen attacked Guru, Dangulbi Sabuwar 26 dead
Kasuwa and Biya Village all in Maru Local
government Council
May 12th Robbers attacked Jangeme Village 6 dead

2011 October 3rd Gun men attacked Lingyado Village in Maru 23 dead
Local government Council
Source: MACBAN 2016

Sources: Reuters, NTA, BBC, Premium Times, Daily Trust, Leadership, Vanguard, The

Street Journal, The Scoop, Nigerian Tribune, Fox News, Africa Review, Information

Nigeria, Channels Tv, PM News (2018)

Pictorials of the impact of rural banditry in Zamfara state

The Cable visited the north-west to document the stories of residents.

Source: THE Cable news network

Widow as a result of rural Banditry, lost husband and four children

46
 Plate 1: Burnt house in Maru LGA

Plate 2: Lost childhood, lost parents. Story of Maru children

Plate 3: Burnt class room block in Maru LGA

5.5 Conclusion

47
The impact of armed banditry on socio-economic development are numerous. Some of

the impact that are being considered are, disruption of farming activities, disruption of

commercial activities, psychological trauma suffered by residents, victims and relatives

of victims of armed banditry, negative impact on the delivery of basic amenities and the

disruption of social activities. However the mode of operation of the bandits could

constitute an obstacle to preventive measures that could have been put in place by the

law enforcement agents. This Is because these bandits engage in one-time raids and

follow a ‘nomadic’ (or slash and burn) form of appropriation.

48
 CHAPTER SIX

6.1 Summary

The causes of banditry in Zamfara State were found to be linked to such factors as moral

decadence, growing unemployment among youths, availability of small and light

weapons, displacement due to civil wars in Nigeria’s neighboring countries, and the hills

and forests on the Nigeria-Cameroun border which serve as hideout to the bandits among

others. On the nature, and pattern and of banditry, the armed bandits attack people in

their community, on the highways and farm and even haphazardly, dispossessing people

of their money, then escaping on foot into the hills and forests that are along the Nigeria-

Cameroon border. The armed bandits usually attack with Military-type weapons that are

more sophisticated than that of the Nigeria Police such as sub-machine guns, AK-47, and

general purpose machine guns. They are usually very violent and even kill their victims

if the victims do not cooperate or tries to escape. In most cases they injure their victims.

On the impact of banditry on socio-economic development it was noted that that the

impact were diverse and include: disruption of commercial activities, negative impact on

the supply and delivery of basic amenities, psychological trauma suffered by victims and

relatives of victims of banditry and disruption of social activities such as farmers not

going to farm, school staff not attending and business shut down.

Hinjari (1993:164) also noted that,“ the security forces deployed to the border post lack

everything necessary to effectively carry out their duties, and that, successive

government have not undertaken a more comprehensive security policy to integrate those

aspects that deal with our relations with our neighbors and the nature and character of the

country’s borders.” Mburu (1999:100) observed that “with the total destruction of the

economy, the only employment left for young men is banditry as a fleeting opportunity

49
or under the ambit of the militia of one fiefdom or the other.” The Centre for

International Cooperation and Security (2005:14) also notes that, “the youth population

in Nigeria, estimated by the UN to be 25million, which is economically, socially, and

politically deprived are among the main perpetrators of armed criminality and

‘gangsterism’.”

6.2 Conclusion

Nigeria's Socio-economic development has been hampered by these emerging security

threats – kidnapping, banditry and cybercrime among others. The study revealed that

certain factors are behind the sudden upsurge of these security threats in the country

which include among others poverty/poor governance, unemployment and poor security

system. These factors have been noted to influence people directly and indirectly that

always result in negative responses. The negative responses later turn to have

implications for socio-economic development in the country. The menace if not urgently

curtailed as a matter of priority, presents a great threat not only for the nation’s

socioeconomic development but also portends a great danger to the entire West African

region. Armed banditry remains a major security challenge that has created instability,

hampered socio-economic development and undermined democratic governance in the

North-West region. Given the observable shortcomings of the militarized responses to

armed banditry, dialogue serves as a complement within a broader conflict management

mechanism to address the threats. The promise of conflict reduction, peace and stability

through this initiative will serve as a reference point that can be applied to similar

context in other regions of the Country. In light of this, the peace dialogue initiated by

the affected States Governments is a step in the right direction in mitigating the threat of

banditry in the North West region of Nigeria.

50
51
From what has been said so far, the chapter concludes that failure on the part of

government security agents to protect its citizens from incessant attacks by armed

bandits could be seen as a failure on the part of government to fulfill its part of the social

contract. This could lead to social unrests especially when such citizens are fed up and

their efforts are no more effective in curtailing and preventing acts of armed banditry.

The chapter also, concludes that the impact of armed banditry on victims, relatives of

victims, travelers and residents cannot therefore be overemphasized. In the face of such

victimization, little or nothing is done by government to reduce the impact, or control

and prevent further occurrences even in the face of colossal expenditure on the existing

control measures. Though, little effort has been put in place by individuals, community

and government law enforcement agencies towards the control and prevention of armed

banditry. Most efforts involved the setting up of vigilante groups and roadblocks, which

were futile in view of the nature of the terrain and operation of the bandits who attack

and escape into the hills/bushes for cover.

6.3 Recommendations

Right and wrong steps by Nigerian government, where negotiations with bandits or

criminals is a temporary solution and unrealistic measures of a kind, rather the authority

should find a way to educate the illiterate, employ the unemployed and alleviate poverty

to make crime unjustifiable, thus the following could be examined:

1. Arising from the strategic neglect of border communities in terms of socio-

economic development, the border communities also provided sites for the

development of poorly managed forest reserves which provided cover and

hideouts for the armed bandits Therefore, government should address the issues

of unemployment, poverty, neglect of the border communities and social injustice

with a view to improving the socio-economic conditions of the residents and, also

reducing the tendency to turn to crime as an alternative to survival.

52
2. The psychological effects of these conflicts such as suspicion, apprehension,

anxiety, stress, prejudice, etc. can be addressed through enlightenment policies of

the state and Federal Governments, using the media, schools and public

enlightenment agencies (like the National Orientation Agency).

3. The politicization of the conflicts in the state and the country can be controlled or

checked by government policies that prohibit the use of conflicts by politicians

for political gains.

4. Government at all levels, as a matter of necessity, should ensure the provision of

adequate security to all nooks and crannies of the state to secure people’s lives

and property. More security personnel (police, army, civil defense, etc.) should

be recruited, equipped and reinvigorated by strengthening their capacity to

combat security challenges in any area in the state. Security issues should not be

treated on ad-hoc basis; rather the operatives should be more pro-active, efficient

and effective in intelligence gathering.

5. The Federal Government, as a matter of necessity and urgency should tackle the

issues of Boko Haram insurgency, rural banditry, militancy and ethnic militia that

are found in most parts of the country. These are the sources of violence,

conflicts, mercenary inflows, gun-running, etc. which aggravates insecurity and

lawlessness in the land.

6. The government should develop strategies and programmes to disarm bandits of

their dangerous weapons. It was observed that bandit uses AK 47 to unleash

terror attacks on their victim and with other dangerous weapons.

53
7. The task of crime prevention and control is not that of the security agents alone as

all hands must be on desk so as to achieve effective peace and order. Thus, a

comprehensive security strategy that greatly involves the community must be

urgently put in place so as to effectively tackle armed robbery and other sundry

crimes militating national security and development.

54
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