Bello Murshadi Yahaya
Department of Political Defense and security Studies,
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, Nigeria
&
Mohammed Abdullahi Alabura
Department of Political Science, Faculty of Social Sciences Taraba State University Jalingo, Nigeria.
Abstract
Counter-banditry strategies are fundamental in tackling banditry to secure national security. When counter-banditry strategies become defective, banditry will linger and impact severely on national security. The study looked at the counter-banditry strategies applied to the bandits in northwestern Nigeria between 2015 and 2023, to ascertain why banditry persists and continues to impact national security during this period despite these measures. This is to look at the viability of the measures. The study interrogates the nexus between counter-banditry and national security, the counter-banditry strategies employed by the government in tackling banditry in northwestern Nigeria, and shortcomings in the counter-banditry strategies. The study utilised a secondary means for data collection. The sources of secondary data are scholarly journals, textbooks, and online materials. The system Theory was utilized as a basis for analysis. A descriptive method was used for Analysis. Findings revealed that the counter-terrorism strategies are ineffective and are distorted by shortcomings. The study recommends that Government should seek international advice from countries with better technicalities in fighting banditry. And technology should be relied upon.
Keywords: Counter-banditry, Banditry, Strategy, and National Security
Introduction
Banditry has been a menace to the National Security of many states. Mac-Leva (2021) maintained that ―while the fundamental element of every society, safety, livelihood, and standard of living has become crippled as a result of armed banditry, it also contributes to the weakening of the state …..‖ States are founded to establish the security of the lives and property of the citizens (Sabine and Thorson, 1973). Hobbes in the Leviathan expatiated that in the state of nature, people surrendered their liberty in exchange for security. It is therefore, the mandated duty of the state to counter banditry for the survival of the state. Counter-banditry strategies must be relevant and effective otherwise the intended result against the targeted menace will not be achieved……..