Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Eyewitness accounts from recent visits to Dayau in Anka Local Government Area and Dolen Moriki in Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State reveal a disturbing consolidation of armed bandits’ influence in both communities, highlighting a precarious security situation in rural northern Nigeria.
Residents report that bandits operate openly, carrying AK-47 rifles slung over their shoulders in public, without apparent concern for state enforcement. Observations indicate that these armed groups have normalized their presence within daily civilian life, moving freely through marketplaces, interacting with locals, and attending congregational Friday prayers while visibly armed.
Community members describe a climate of coercion, in which interactions with bandits are enforced rather than voluntary. In local markets and shops, civilians are reportedly compelled to sell goods or provide food to the armed groups, while failure to comply can lead to targeted punishment, including killings, abductions, or disruptions of agricultural activities.
The situation is exacerbated by the near-total absence of state authority in these areas. Residents report no permanent police stations, minimal or intermittent military patrols, and limited access to essential state services such as electricity. This lack of infrastructure has allowed bandits to assume de facto control, effectively regulating daily life and instilling fear among civilians.
One resident explained the dilemma faced by community members: “We are forced to coexist with them. We do not even want the government to provoke them unless it can fully remove them. If security forces come and leave, the gunmen return to punish us through killings, abductions and preventing farming.” Such testimonies underscore the heavy psychological and economic burden placed on rural populations, as normal activities such as farming, schooling, and trade are constrained by the constant threat of violence.
The pattern of behavior observed in Dayau and Dolen Moriki suggests a systematic entrenchment of armed banditry, with little deterrence from existing security structures. Analysts warn that such conditions, if left unaddressed, may further destabilize these regions and allow criminal networks to expand their influence across neighboring rural communities.
Efforts by state and federal authorities to restore law and order in Zamfara have been ongoing, but the accounts from these communities indicate that the presence of security forces is intermittent and insufficient to counter the entrenched power of the bandits. Residents stress that meaningful intervention would require sustained deployment of security personnel combined with comprehensive community engagement strategies to restore trust and safety.
The normalization of armed presence in daily life poses long-term challenges for governance, economic activity, and social cohesion. Civilians in these villages continue to navigate a precarious existence under de facto rule by armed groups, awaiting sustained security interventions capable of re-establishing authority, protecting livelihoods, and ensuring the safety of vulnerable populations.
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