Insecurity in Northern Nigeria Worsens as Militants Impose Laws and Taxes, Former Army Chief Warns at Security Summit

 

Northern Nigeria continues to face a deepening crisis as bandits and insurgents increasingly assert control over local communities, according to former Chief of Army Staff and ex-Minister of Interior, Lt Gen Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (rtd). Addressing participants at the First Media and Security Summit held in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, Dambazau expressed grave concern over the deteriorating security situation across the region.

Highlighting the scale of the problem, Dambazau revealed that armed groups have gone beyond sporadic attacks, now governing entire communities by imposing taxes and creating their own rules. The former military chief emphasized that states like Katsina, Borno, Zamfara, and Kano have been particularly affected by violence, including attacks on places of worship, widespread banditry, and the ongoing herders-farmers conflicts.

“Thousands have been killed, millions displaced, and countless families destroyed,” Dambazau said. He further noted that the surge in insecurity has left a rising number of widows and orphans, destroyed farms, and caused massive cattle rustling, with little to no intervention from state authorities.

During his address, the retired general called on northern governors to establish Ministries of Mineral Resources within their states. Such agencies, he argued, could collaborate with federal bodies to harness natural resources, generate revenue, alleviate poverty, and ultimately weaken the conditions that allow banditry and terrorism to flourish. He also advocated for reviving agriculture, reinforcing respect for traditional institutions, addressing the high number of out-of-school children, and promoting social inclusion to strengthen community resilience.

Dambazau stressed that poverty remains a critical driver of insecurity in the North, with over seventy percent of those affected by deprivation living in the region. He singled out religious extremism as a persistent threat, citing Boko Haram, Lakurawa terrorist groups, and armed bandits as primary actors inflicting violence on local populations.

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, emphasized the collective responsibility of leaders in addressing insecurity. He called for open dialogue among stakeholders and for decisions aimed at restoring peace to be faithfully implemented. “We were not like this before, Nigeria was not what it is today. Solutions require collaboration and sustained action,” the Sultan remarked.

Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule echoed these concerns, highlighting that insecurity in the North West region is deeply troubling and demands targeted interventions that address underlying causes, including climate change, poverty, and governance challenges. Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris underscored the importance of the summit as a platform for northern leaders to confront shared security challenges and develop coordinated strategies for lasting solutions.

The summit thus brought together key leaders to discuss the multidimensional nature of insecurity and potential measures to restore stability. Observers noted that without urgent and collaborative action, northern communities risk continued domination by armed groups, with far-reaching consequences for both social cohesion and economic development.