Insecurity in Northern Nigeria: A Call for Accountability

The article examines the persistent insecurity in Northern Nigeria, particularly in states like Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, Kaduna, and Kebbi, where banditry and terrorism have escalated. It criticizes the northern elite for deflecting blame from the main culprits, instead attributing the violence to factors like climate change and poverty.

Prominent figures, including former President Muhammadu Buhari and Sheikh Abubakar Mahmud Gumi, have advocated for negotiations and amnesty for bandits, reminiscent of the approach taken with Niger Delta militants. The article notes that during Buhari's presidency, there was a culture of silence regarding the violence to protect his image.

It also highlights the case of Sheikh Muhammad Nuru Khalid, who was dismissed from his position for vocally addressing the insecurity, with Senator Saidu Dansadau, from Zamfara, overseeing his sacking despite the region's devastation by banditry.