On Anti-Banditry, Things Need to be Done Differently
By Professor Usman Yusuf
I have never been shy about stating my position regarding the ongoing war on banditry that is now in its twelfth year. This is an expression of my right as a citizen who is directly involved not as an idle city folk or a mischievous interloper.
This little write up is to restate and own up what I have consistently been saying over the last 6 years in my many articles and interviews on various radio and tv platforms.
We know that banditry started as a social problem created locally by the actions of irresponsible politicians that has been neglected and allowed to fester to this dangerous level that is now engulfing the whole nation.
Over these twelve years, the response of both the state and federal governments has been to increasingly militarize this conflict with disastrous consequences.
While there is a definite role for the military, there is not going to be a military solution to the war on banditry. Because, never in the history of warfare have conflicts like this been won on the battlefield.
I have said it repeatedly that all the problems are local and their solutions must be found locally. Big plans from Abuja without involving local stakeholders have not worked over the last 12 years and will never work.
So, continuing to do the same thing over and over again and expect a different outcome is delusional to put it mildly.
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Our military is overstretched with deployment in all the 36 states of the federation and the FCT. Soldiers are getting battle-fatigued with prolonged tour of duty with many increasingly developing PTSD and some resorting to drugs. We must listen to the cries of help from our children and fighting men who put their lives in harm’s way every waking day for us.
There can never be peace in any society with Nigeria’s level of corruption, bad governance, state-imposed hunger, excruciating poverty, out of school children, youth unemployment, alarming rate of illicit drugs addiction among youth, proliferation of light and small arms, and toxic ethnoreligious mistrust and hatred fueled by selfish politicians.
Investing heavily on tackling these social issues will be a more cost effective and life saving alternative to continuing bloodshed and costly militarization.
Not involving the Traditional rulers, Clerics, Elders and community leaders in this fight from the outset is a big mistake that needs to be corrected.
Sincere dialogue is a legitimate tool in any warfare that should be aggressively pursued for a lasting peace.
Disarmament of bandits, vigilantes and all other arms-wielding terrorists can only come after a sincere dialogue that rebuilds trust and old bonds that have been broken by years of senseless bloodbath.
As this conflict drags into its thirteenth year in 2026, the President and Commander in Chief should consult widely and direct that things be done differently.
Nigerians are tired of this endless war and bloodshed.
Usman Yusuf is a Professor of Haematology-Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation.
