Nigerian State and the Rising Waves of Armed Banditry in Northwest, Nigeria, 2015-2022

Abstract

The incessant attacks, killings and raiding by bandits have continued unabatedly and seems to have become a worrisome attribute of socio-cultural and political life in North West, Nigeria. Some say the challenge has degenerated as a result of the influx of criminal elements into the country. The most worrisome aspect is the existence of hostile manifestation in cattle rustling, killings, kidnapping, raping and arsons. The existential threat posed by this phenomenon in North West, Nigeria has left many in doubt about the capacity of the Nigerian State to perform its constitutional responsibility of providing security for lives and property and other groups in the State. The impression is that the State has become overwhelmed by the activities of armed bandits in the region. Therefore, this paper seeks to explain how cultural affinity between Nigerian State and her neighboring States induce insecurity in Northwest, Nigeria. This study is anchored on opportunity-structure theory and argued that the outbreak of violence is predicated on the presence of opportunity structure such as cultural affinity that favours the mobilization and organization of violent attitude. The study found that the presence of cultural homogeneity between Nigeria and her neighbors induce rural banditry in Northwest, Nigeria. The study relied on secondary sources whereby data were gleaned from books, newspapers, and government official documents among others. The data were analyzed using content analysis. We recommend stringent migration laws that would take proper record of every entry and exit and strict border policing to checkmate criminally minded migrants leveraging on the ECOWAS free movement protocols to perpetrate crime.