Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Special Adviser on Security Matters to the Sokoto State Governor, Colonel Ahmed Usman (retd.), has issued a clarion call for a united regional front against the escalating banditry and terrorism plaguing Nigeria's North-West, declaring that the worsening insecurity cannot be tackled through military action alone and requires a coordinated strategy that transcends state boundaries. Usman made the declaration on Monday, August 24, 2026, while commending the Zamfara State Government for inaugurating its Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR), Peace and Security Committee, a 13-member body tasked with addressing the root causes of armed violence in the state. The Sokoto security adviser stressed that banditry has become a regional challenge that no single state can defeat in isolation, noting that what happens in one state often has direct and devastating consequences for its neighbours.
Usman argued that while military operations remain critical in confronting armed criminal groups, a sustainable peace cannot be achieved through kinetic action alone. "The fight against banditry cannot be won through military action alone. There must be a coordinated approach that combines effective security operations with peacebuilding, rehabilitation, justice, community engagement and reintegration where appropriate," he said. He described the Zamfara DDR initiative as a strategic intervention that could complement ongoing security operations by addressing some of the factors sustaining armed violence and providing structured pathways for genuine repentant fighters to return to lawful and productive lives.
The security adviser, however, issued a stern warning that the DDR programme must not become a means for criminals to evade justice or allow hardened terrorists to infiltrate communities and legitimate institutions. "Those who genuinely surrender their weapons, renounce violence and demonstrate commitment to peaceful coexistence should be given a structured opportunity to return to society, while those who continue to terrorise innocent communities must face the full weight of the law," Usman declared. He stressed that the credibility of the programme would depend largely on stringent screening, intelligence-led monitoring and proper safeguards to prevent abuse.
Usman welcomed the involvement of federal institutions in the Zamfara initiative, including the National Counter-Terrorism Centre under the Office of the National Security Adviser, Operation SAFE CORRIDOR, the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons and the Federal Ministry of Justice. He said their participation would provide the technical, legal and institutional framework required to make the DDR programme credible, transparent and properly monitored.
The Sokoto official also commended the contribution of an international Inter-Mediate delegation led by Ambassador Sérgio Jaramillo, former National Security Adviser to Colombia; General Alberto Mejia (retd.), former Commander of the Colombian Armed Forces; and General Félix Rodney (retd.), former British Defence and National Security Adviser to the Sultan of Oman. Usman said the experience of countries that had dealt with prolonged armed conflicts and implemented peacebuilding and reintegration programmes could provide useful lessons for Nigeria, particularly the North-West, where banditry has disrupted communities and economic activities. He, however, cautioned against adopting foreign models without adapting them to Nigeria's circumstances, stressing that "any DDR framework must be adapted to the cultural, social, security and economic realities of communities in Zamfara and other affected states".
In a direct challenge to the governors and security agencies of the North-West, Usman called for stronger cooperation among states in the region, noting that banditry had become a regional challenge that could not be effectively tackled by individual states acting in isolation. "Banditry is a regional challenge, and therefore our response must also be coordinated at the regional level. What happens in one state can have direct consequences for neighbouring states," he said. He urged the states to strengthen intelligence sharing, joint security operations, surveillance along border communities and cooperation between security agencies. He also called for greater investment in lawful livelihoods and community engagement to reduce the vulnerability of residents to recruitment into criminal activities.
Usman said Sokoto State remained committed to supporting initiatives aimed at restoring peace and stability across the North-West, stressing that the ultimate goal should be to protect lives and property and restore normal socio-economic activities in affected communities. His comments come amid persistent security challenges across the North-West, where bandits and terrorists have exploited the region's difficult terrain, porous borders and weak governance structures to launch devastating attacks on vulnerable communities. The call for a united regional approach signals a growing recognition among North-West leaders that the fight against banditry requires a collective, coordinated and multi-dimensional strategy that goes beyond military action to address the root causes of violence and provide pathways for genuine rehabilitation and reintegration.
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