Experts Urge FG to Intensify Military Action Against Bandits

Experts from Nextier Research, Dr. Chukwuma Okoli and Dr.

Ndu Nwokolo, have called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to intensify military operations and impose stricter market access restrictions to combat bandits who are adopting new tactics. A report indicates that kidnappers in northwest Nigeria are shifting their demands for ransom and leveraging secure passage to supply essential goods.

Between January and June 2023, at least 3,612 people were kidnapped across Nigeria, with the northwest accounting for 55 percent of these victims. The report attributes this shift to a combination of sustained military offensives and community vigilance, which have made it increasingly difficult for bandits to access markets.

Recommendations include improving rural infrastructure to enable security agencies to reach remote hideouts, strengthening traditional institutions, and maintaining a policy of refusing to negotiate with kidnappers while ensuring the arrest and prosecution of suspects.