Northern Nigeria continue to face severe security challenges, with the region plagued by insurgencies, banditry, kidnapping, and communal violence. The relentless attacks of Boko Haram, the rise of criminal kidnapping, and the growing threat of armed banditry have disrupted daily life, forced millions from their homes and left an ideology of fear and uncertainty.
These security problems have underdeveloped the region’s growth and undermined the wellbeing of its people. Nevertheless, the road to overcoming these threats requires a multifaceted approach that goes beyond the use of brutal force.
This piece will look at the importance of unity between civilians and security forces, the need for security agencies to be proactive and exercise intelligence and how strengthening cooperation can help combat the Boko Haram insurgency and kidnapping crises in Northern Nigeria.
The Boko Haram Insurgency and Its Impact;
The Boko Haram insurgency that began in early 2009 till date remains one of the most devastating security crises in Nigeria’s history, if not of Biafra that is considered a civil war.
Originally, an anti-government measure, calling for the establishment of an Islamic state while counterattacking they Islamic Laws the claimed to be of using. Boko Haram has grown into a formidable terrorist organization responsible for widespread violence across the northeast, which include Bombing of religious centres’ such as mosques, churches among others, Over the years, the group has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions, leading to a humanitarian crisis.
The insurgents have attacked schools, markets, military installations (check points), police stations and other government buildings. Boko Haram groups focused on abducting children, especially school girls has been a particularly disturbing aspect of their campaign, as purely exemplified by the high profile abduction of the Chibok girls in (chibok village) in 2014.
Such acts have spread terror and discourage education, especially for girls, leaving a lasting negative impact on the region’s future as many parent denied their children the privilege of going back to school again.
Compounding this problem, Boko Haram has also split into different groups, with the rise of the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), further complicating efforts to eradicate the insurgency. The ongoing conflict has severely weakened the economy of the region, making farming in places like Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Borno and other places difficult, preventing businesses and increasing food insecurity.
Despite numerous military operations aimed at defeating Boko Haram, the insurgency swiftly persists. This underscore the need for a more proactive and intelligence driven methodology to security.
Kidnapping and Banditry; A continues Threat;
A continues threats, while the Boko Haram insurgency has captured global attention, another equally devastating problem has emerged in the northwest of Nigeria.
The rise of banditry and kidnapping for ransom, Armed groups, often referred to as bandits, have taken advantage of the region’s weak security to carry out attacks on villages, kidnap travellers, and hold them hostage for large sums of money.
In many cases, entire communities have been terrorized by these criminal gangs, leading to mass displacement in places like; Tudun Kurunfi in katsina, and Bakin Ali village in zamfara state.
Kidnapping, that has become a lucrative criminal enterprise, does not only target the wealthy individuals, Students, farmers, traders and ordinary citizens have become victims of abductions, with many families forced to pay excessive ransoms to secure the release of their loved ones, such as the emir of Gobir on the latest incident.
The consequences are not only economic but psychological, as fear grips entire communities, making it difficult for people to engage in their daily activities or pursue education and businesses.
The security agencies have struggled to keep up with the rapidly evolving tactics of the kidnappers, frequently arriving too late or failing to prevent the attacks in sum. This has led to widespread criticism of security forces, with many accusing them of being reactive rather than proactive in dealing with the crisis, indeed, this demonstrated the inefficient intelligence and lack professionalism imbued in the security services.
Proactivity and display of Intelligence:
The Key to Defeating Insecurity; to efficiently tackle the threats by Boko Haram, banditry, and kidnapping, security agencies in Northern Nigeria must adopt a more proactivity and intelligence focussed technique.
Instead of simply responding to attacks after they occur, the security forces must work to prevent these incidents by gathering and acting on actionable intelligence. This shift from reactive to proactive measures is important for long durational success in safeguarding the region.
Intelligence Gathering and Sharing
One of the crucial reasons for the persistence of Boko Haram and banditry is the lack of timely and accurate intelligence, this is clearly justified in Borno state, Without reliable information about the location, movements and plans of these groups, security forces are often forced to rely on guesswork, leading to costly delays and ineffective operations as our soldiers are dying daily on the battle field.
Intelligence gathering should be a priority in countering insurgency and banditry efforts. This can surely be achieved by nurturing closer collaboration between local communities, law enforcement agencies, and the military.
Civilians leaving in the communities who are often the first to notice unusual activities or suspect individuals, can play a vital role in providing critical information to security forces. Encouraging the community to report suspicious activities requires building trust and ensuring that informants are protected from reprisals.
The use of modern technology, such as drones, satellite imagery, and surveillance systems, can also enhance the effectiveness of intelligence gathering. By using technology to monitor insurgents’ movements and identify their hideouts, security agencies can carry out more targeted and effective operations.
Military and Law Enforcement Operations
Military and law enforcement operations must shift from being reactive to being proactive. This means anticipating attacks before they happen and acting to prevent them.
One way to do this is by conducting regular patrols in the highly risk areas and establishing a strong presence in the expanses prone to insurgent or bandit attacks. Having a permanent and visible security presence can act as a deterrent to criminals, making it harder for them to operate freely.
Joint task forces that bring together military personnel, police, and civilian groups have already recorded some success in Northern Nigeria. These teams should be expanded and be provided with better resources to carry out operations in remote and rural areas, where banditry and insurgency often thrive.
Proactive security requires that law enforcement agencies and the military move out of urban places and into the rural heartlands, where they can engage with the communities most affected by insecurity.
Additionally, deploying specialized counter terrorism units with expertise in dealing with insurgents and kidnappers will strengthen the security response. These units should be trained in the latest counter insurgency and counter terrorism tactics and be equipped with modern weapons and communication tools.
Disrupting Financial Networks
Both Boko Haram and bandits heavily rely on financing to carry out their operations. Kidnapping for ransom has become one of the primary ways these groups fund their activities. To effectively weaken these groups, security forces must focus on cutting off their sources of funding.
This can be done by tracking and freezing bank accounts used to transfer ransom payments, shutting down illegal smuggling routes, and disrupting the informal networks used to launder money. By making it harder for insurgents and bandits to finance their operations, the government can limit their ability to recruit new fighters, purchase weapons, and sustain their activities, nevertheless, the public must also be enlighten about the impacts of high risk of paying ransom.
A United Front against Insecurity
As the saying goes, “security is everyone’s business and concern.” For Northern Nigeria to overcome its security challenges, citizens must play their on citizenry contribution, an active role in supporting security efforts.
This involves more than just reporting suspicious event, it also means creating a sense of unity within communities that makes it difficult for insurgents and bandits to operate.
Strengthening Community Vigilance
Communities must be encouraged to form neighbourhood watch groups, vigilante teams, and civilian joint task forces (CJTFs) to protect their local areas. These groups can work alongside security agencies to provide information, conduct patrols, and serve as the eyes and ears of the community. However, it is crucial that such groups operate within the bounds of the law to avoid vigilante justice or abuses as seen in many places, where the vigilante teams were made.
Dialogue and cooperation
Unity within communities is essential to preventing disunion, which insurgents and bandits often exploit. Dialogue between different ethnic, religious, and social groups can help resolve conflicts before they turn violent.
Religious and traditional leaders, who wield significant influence in the North, should be involved in promoting peace and security. Their voices can help sway public opinion and encourage citizens to cooperate with security agencies.
Conclusion:
The trouble with the North is not just limited to the presence of Boko Haram insurgencies, banditry, and kidnapping, it is also the lack of a unified proactive approach to security.
For Northern Nigeria to achieve lasting peace, there must be a concerted effort by both security agencies and citizens to work together to strengthen intelligence gathering, and shift from reactive to proactive security measures.
