Security Expert Kabiru Adamu Insists Authorities Know Bandits’ Locations But Fail To Act Due To Poor Accountability

 

A prominent security analyst, Kabiru Adamu, has stated that both government and security agencies already know the exact locations of bandits across Nigeria, yet decisive action continues to lag due to weak accountability. His remarks came during a discussion on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Friday, where he argued that the real obstacle is not lack of intelligence, but rather the failure of institutions to follow through on responsibilities.

Adamu stressed that anyone operating within the security sector understands not only where these armed groups operate but also the economic networks sustaining them. He described the situation as one where critical knowledge exists, yet effective response is absent because oversight mechanisms have failed.

According to him, governors who claim security agencies are fully aware of bandits’ locations are absolutely right. He insisted that the major challenge is that this knowledge is not translated into visible results because of insufficient accountability structures.

Authorities, he noted, have been aware of these criminal camps for years. He recalled that the Nigerian military, as far back as 2019, publicly identified around 60 bandit bases scattered across different regions. Yet Nigerians have never been provided with a transparent update on how many of these camps have been neutralised. The absence of such reports, Adamu explained, undermines public trust and makes it difficult to measure progress in the fight against armed violence.

He posed a direct question to the military establishment, asking for clarity on how many of those 60 camps had been dismantled before the end of the previous administration, and how many have been targeted since the new government assumed power in 2023. For him, this information gap highlights systemic problems of poor monitoring and lack of clear accountability within the security structure.

Adamu argued that the problem is not rooted in inadequate intelligence or poor identification of threats. Rather, it is the absence of transparency and oversight that has allowed criminal groups to remain active. He pointed out that where accountability is enforced, security operations are usually followed by clear reports, measurable outcomes, and consequences for lapses. Nigeria’s security system, he said, lacks these essential ingredients.

He further emphasised that the Nigerian National Assembly has a constitutional responsibility to ensure security agencies are properly scrutinised. Oversight committees, in his view, should intensify their monitoring efforts and hold relevant actors responsible for results. Without such accountability, he warned, violence will continue to spread and civilians will remain vulnerable.

Adamu also highlighted the importance of containment. He explained that even if violence cannot be eradicated immediately, it should at least be significantly reduced to provide space for peacebuilding and development initiatives. He noted that unchecked violence erodes confidence in state institutions, weakens the economy, and deepens humanitarian crises in affected communities.

The security analyst reminded Nigerians that effective counterinsurgency or counter-banditry campaigns globally rely on three crucial elements: accurate intelligence, decisive action, and accountability. Nigeria, he said, already has the intelligence, but the missing link is accountability. He lamented that security agencies are rarely questioned about their performance, creating an environment where inefficiency persists unchecked.

He suggested that a more transparent system of reporting should be adopted, where security operations are regularly audited and made public. Such a system, he added, would not only strengthen citizens’ confidence but also motivate security actors to deliver measurable outcomes.

Adamu’s comments reflect growing public frustration with the prolonged insecurity affecting vast areas of Nigeria, particularly in the Northwest and Northcentral regions where bandits have killed, kidnapped, and displaced thousands. Communities in these regions frequently complain that they have repeatedly reported the locations of armed groups to authorities, yet military or police action is either slow or nonexistent.

He stressed that until accountability becomes central to Nigeria’s security framework, banditry and related crimes will remain an enduring challenge. He argued that leadership at all levels must embrace transparency, while the legislature must compel security institutions to justify their budgets and operations with tangible results.

The security analyst concluded by noting that citizens deserve a safer country and that achieving this requires far more than speeches or announcements. What is required, he insisted, is a system where knowledge translates into action and where failure to act attracts consequences. Only then, he said, can Nigeria begin to reverse the tide of violence and give peacebuilding a chance.