The Insecurity Triad (II): Banditry — the rural siege and the weaponisation of the harvest
The rural landscape of Northern and Middle-Belt Nigeria has been transformed into a war zone, with bandits waging a systematic campaign of violence and extortion against farmers and communities. The once-thriving countryside is now a desolate expanse of abandoned farmlands, where crops rot and entire communities live in fear of attack. Brigadier-General Lawal Bature Mohammed, a former Commander of the Zamfara Community Protection Guards, was one of the many victims of this violence. He was shot by bandits last year and died from his injuries.
The bandits have evolved from sporadic raiders to a sophisticated force that administers, regulates, and extracts from the rural communities. They have established a system of territorial control, operating in areas where the authority of the state is weak or absent. In these zones, bandits do not just attack; they tax the very act of survival, forcing farmers to pay "protection fees" to plant their seeds and a second "exit fee" to harvest their crops. Refusal to comply often invites violent reprisals, including raids, kidnappings, or the destruction of entire communities.
The consequences of this violence are devastating. Over 2.5 million hectares of arable land remain uncultivated due to the threat of violence, resulting in widespread displacement and loss of livelihoods. Thousands of rural families have relocated to urban fringes or IDP camps, where their futures are uncertain.
The banditry crisis in Nigeria is a stark reminder of the government's failure to provide security and protection to its citizens. The Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, has acknowledged that many bandit attacks are linked to efforts to clear communities from mineral-rich lands. However, the government's inaction has allowed this crisis to escalate, with far-reaching consequences for the economy and the people. The transportation premium of ₦5,000 to ₦50,000 per trip, imposed on transporters moving goods to Abuja, is a direct result of the banditry crisis, adding an estimated 20%–30% to retail prices. This is a clear example of how the government's failure to address insecurity is having a direct impact on the cost of living for everyday Nigerians.
