Banditry in Northern Nigeria, notably pervasive in Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, Niger, Kaduna, Kebbi, Abuja, and Kogi states, has evolved into a dire daily occurrence, primarily attributed to Fulani herders wielding sophisticated weapons. This issue has led to extensive displacement, loss of lives, and shattered communities, exacerbated by a lackadaisical government response, effectively turning criminal acts into lucrative enterprises. The socio-economic fabric of affected areas has been profoundly torn, with thousands displaced, lives lost, and families shattered. This violence has escalated into conflicts between herders and farmers, disrupting agricultural activities and posing a threat to food security. Focusing on Shiroro Local Government Area in Niger State, the study investigates banditry’s socio-economic effects between 2015 and 2021. It highlights poverty’s role in fuelling armed banditry and its substantial impact on socio-economic activities, as indicated by 64.5% of respondents strongly agreeing on poverty’s influence. Statistical analyses support a significant relationship between poverty and banditry, as well as economic challenges and banditry attacks. The findings underscore the urgent need for comprehensive interventions addressing poverty, unemployment, and governance failures to curb rural armed banditry and foster socio-economic stability. Based on the findings, this study recommends: equipping security agencies, supporting youth in farming, intelligence gathering, and community engagement to combat this menace and restore peace to affected areas.

PurposeBanditry is a major social problem in Nigeria that has over time defied series of intervention measures introduced by the federal and state governments to address it. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the counter-banditry strategies of the affected communities in Oyo State, Nigeria.Design/methodology/approachThe research was exploratory and cross-sectional in design. Situational criminal prevention theory was used as conceptual guide. Data were elicited from community leaders, community members and local security guards using in-depth interview, key-informant interview and focus group discussion methods.FindingsThe results showed that communities affected by banditry problem were adopting different internal and external interventions to combat the criminal act. Although the counter-banditry strategies of the affected communities have brought about a reduction in the occurrence of the criminal act, the problem is yet to be totally eliminated as people still get victimised.Originality/valueThis research expanded the frontiers of knowledge by focusing on the counter-banditry strategies of the communities affected by the problem of banditry and also suggested relevant practical steps that can be taken to further strengthen the existing security architectures in such locations.

Purpose: This research examines the implications of terrorism and banditry on Nigeria's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
 Methodology: Employing a content analysis approach and drawing from qualitative data from secondary sources, the study highlights the extensive ramifications of terrorism and banditry, encompassing loss of lives and property, displacement of people, economic disruption, damage to Nigeria's reputation, and political instability. The research underscores the urgency for the Nigerian government to take decisive action in addressing these challenges, fostering economic growth, rebuilding investor trust, and enhancing the country's image.
 Findings: The research findings hold practical implications for policymakers and security agencies, urging a unified and comprehensive approach in confronting terrorism and banditry in Nigeria. The research underscores the significance of addressing the psychological impact on affected individuals by providing essential mental health support, facilitating their recovery, and fostering social cohesion. The Realist theory guides the study, emphasizing the prioritization of state security and interests in an anarchic international system, offering valuable insights into comprehending the implications of terrorism and banditry on Nigeria's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
 Recommendations: To effectively combat terrorism and banditry, the study recommends reinforcing national security through increased funding, improved intelligence gathering and addressing socio-economic factors such as poverty, unemployment, and inequality through targeted policies. Emphasizing international cooperation and strengthening governance and accountability are identified as vital aspects in combating the cross-border nature of these threats. The recommended strategies offer a roadmap to effectively combat these security challenges, safeguarding Nigeria's stability, peace, and economic prosperity. By implementing these measures, practitioners can work towards restoring the nation's security, rebuilding confidence, and enhancing its position in the international community.

Banditry constitutes about 40% of national insecurity in Nigeria. It is a composite crime manifesting in wanton killing, cattle rustling, kidnapping for ransom, levying of illegal tax on farming communities, sexual violence and trafficking of arms and drugs. Through qualitative and quantitative research methodology, this article attempts to theorise and illustrate policing models aimed at countering armed banditry in northwest Nigeria. Coordinates of attacks by bandits are georeferenced to show their spatial distribution and pattern. As Nigeria continues to experience the shocks of banditry, the national and subnational governments are providing counter measures to lessen the striking capability of the bandits through four distinct but complementary models of policing. The article offers direction on the policing imperatives for combatting armed banditry in Nigeria. It proposes a multilevel policing framework which encompasses the mainstream policing, hybrid policing and the joint task force models with the state police as the new layer on the existing security architecture. This is well suited to respond to the conceptual, practical and strategic dimensions of policing in Nigeria to combat armed banditry and other criminalities that envelop the country.

This paper explored the potential of STEM education in combating banditry and promoting development in Zamfara State, Nigeria. Zamfara State had long been plagued by the complex challenges of banditry, severely hampering its social fabric and economic progress. Through an analysis of the banditry and socioeconomic development in the state, and the limitations of traditional approaches to combating banditry, the paper argued that innovative approaches were needed. Leveraging STEM education can play a critical role in building resilience and empowering communities by equipping individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to address local challenges, such as banditry. Drawing on successful STEM programmes from around the world, the paper also outlined key strategies for implementing effective STEM education beyond classroom in banditry affected areas in the state. The paper suggested that implementing STEM education beyond the classroom will develop critical skills for innovation among teeming youths in Zamfara State, thereby making them well engaged and productive, hence discouraging them from getting involved in any form of banditry related activities.

With the ever-increasing security challenges, resulting from the activities of different militia groups in Nigeria, the researcher chose to single out the growing incidence of banditry in the Northwest Nigeria for analysis and to direct policy approach. Guided by two objectives, (1) causative factors of banditry (2) patterns and trends in banditry; information and data on the subject were gathered through literature review (books, journals, policy reports and newspapers). The Political economy, Means-End and the Sub-cultural theories were integrated to further support the discourse. Both theoretical and empirical evidence implicated poverty and other harsh economic conditions, porous borders, low education, and bad governance as major causes of banditry in the region under review. There is an exponential increase in the trend and pattern of this phenomenon, with dire consequences on security and national development and cohesion, as well has resulted in outright destruction of lives and property. The advocacy is on all level of government (Local, State and Federal) to build and sustain inclusive social capital and functional political economy and social structure for enduring public safety and peaceful coexistence. These will go a long way I addressing the issues of abject poverty, low education, bad governance and corruption in border security, which coalesce with other push-pull factors to escalate banditry in the Northwest Nigeria.

The twin evil of banditry and insurgency are threatening the peace of law abiding citizens in rural communities in Niger State, Nigeria. These activities are being noticed from 2015 to 2022. These challenges have made rural dwellers to leave their ancestral home to search for places of abode for the main time. Notwithstanding the people of these communities are still fighting the bandits and insurgents through both government efforts and their own community initiatives. This article investigated the way the communities have suffered in the hands of bandits and insurgents and how they have been confronting them to take control of their communities and continue their lives with the risk of been attacked by these adversaries. The study used both primary and secondary data. The primary data was collection through interview and secondary data was sourced from Daily Trust Newspaper. The qualitative data was analysed in themes. The study concludes that the resilience of the communities has helped them to confront their adversaries, but they need the help of the state to eliminate those threats on a long run.

The incidence of armed banditry has exacerbated the security conundrum in Nigeria to create a multidimensional security quandary. Meanwhile, the extant studies on the matter offer insubstantial theoretical explanations. This study attempts an extensive approach that captures the necessitating factors for banditry from an opportunistic standpoint. This is heralded on the presupposition that crime occurs as a result of the opportunities presented to carry it out. Therefore, this study adopts the theories of crime opportunities, such as routine activity theory, rational choice and crime pattern to expound on the incidence of armed banditry in Nigeria. It was found out that opportunities play a role in banditry; the phenomenon is concentrated in time and space; the opportunities for the menace is highly specific and that the incidence produces opportunities for other crimes. Solutions rooted in the theoretical proposition of situational crime prevention and crime prevention through environmental design theories are thence proffered.

Banditry crisis in Nigeria is one of the reasons for the emergence of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) and the creation of Internally Displaced Persons’ Camps (IDPCs). From the point of view of political economy approach, bandits attack as a result of many factors ranging from poverty and unemployment to the proliferation of arms as well as the desire to belong to the society. Managing this crisis has been difficult for the Nigerian state as adequate attention is not given to the situation; thus the increased number of displaced persons on daily basis. The study made use of secondary sources of data collection. It was discovered that banditry imposes untold hardship on the people; affecting their means of livelihood and exposing them to illegal means of sustenance. It has led to loss of lives and properties, undermined the security, peace and development of the Nigerian state and made women vulnerable to many societal ills. Efforts made by stakeholders to combat the scourge have not yielded the desired result. The paper thus recommends among others that, the over-dependence on the military to fight banditry is not the solution to the menace. There is the need to address the root causes of the banditry crisis which include poverty, unemployment, weak security system, the fragility of the Nigerian state, proliferation of arms and corruption. The government therefore should provide job opportunities for the youths; a conducive environment for the Internally Displaced Persons and plan ahead for them to return to their various homes. The government also should effectively monitor and secure the Nigerian borders with the neighbouring countries to checkmate illegal migration of people and arms proliferation. The government should re-orientate the people on ethical values and reverence for life and human rights.

In recent years, the northwest region of Nigeria has experienced a surge in banditry activities, leading to profound repercussions on local communities. This paper aims at examining banditry’s toll on tomorrow, with a focus on the consequences on the youth in northwest Nigeria. The method adopted for this research is the qualitative method of investigation which tends to emphasize the description, meaning, and understanding of the phenomenon being studied. It relies on questioning and observation in the effort to discover or generate a profound understanding of the phenomenon or situation under investigation. This qualitative research uses a paradigm interpretive approach (naturalistic), which tries to understand the phenomenon from the subjective experiences of individuals. The study discovered that banditry has multiple consequences (economical, political, social, cultural, religious, etc) on the youth in Northwest Nigeria. The paper recommends that, despite the challenges posed by banditry, efforts can be made to promote resilience and develop coping strategies among youths in the Northwest, Nigeria. This may involve implementing psycho-social support programs, trauma-informed teaching practices, and community-based interventions to address the psychological impact.