FORMER Minister of Interior, Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (rtd), has raised alarm over the worsening insecurity in Northern Nigeria, revealing that bandits and insurgents have taken control of some communities where they now impose taxes and enforce their own laws.
Speaking at the First Media and Security Summit held in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, yesterday, Dambazau described the situation as a long-standing crisis that has persisted for over two decades. The summit was themed “Existential Threats and National Security.”
He lamented that incessant killings across states such as Katsina, Borno, Zamfara, and Kano have devastated lives and livelihoods, displacing millions of people.
“Thousands have been killed and millions displaced. The number of widows and orphans has multiplied, farmers have lost their lands, and herders have had their cattle rustled with little or no response from state actors,” he said.
The retired Chief of Army Staff called on northern governors to establish Ministries of Mineral Resources to work with relevant federal agencies in harnessing natural resources and boosting internal revenue.
According to him, this could help alleviate poverty and reduce the drivers of insecurity in the region.
He also urged northern leaders to strengthen traditional institutions, revive agriculture, tackle the growing number of out-of-school children, and promote social inclusion.
“Over 70 percent of those living in poverty due to insecurity are from the North,” he noted, adding that religious extremism has further worsened the crisis, giving rise to groups like Boko Haram, bandits, and other terrorist networks.
In his remarks, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, emphasized collective responsibility in addressing insecurity.
“We need to come together to talk and understand one another. Nigeria was not like this before, and we can restore peace if we work together and act on our decisions,” he said.
The Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, also expressed concern over insecurity in the North West, urging participants to examine its root causes, including the impact of climate change. Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, added that the summit provided an opportunity to discuss and find lasting solutions to the region’s security challenges.