A former Minister of Interior and retired Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (rtd), has expressed grave concern over the worsening insecurity in Northern Nigeria, revealing that terrorists have begun collecting taxes and enforcing their own laws in several communities.
Dambazau made the revelation on Monday during the First Media and Security Summit held in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, with the theme “Existential Threats and National Security.” The summit attracted several northern leaders, including the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, and the governors of Nasarawa and Kebbi States.
According to the retired general, insecurity in the region has persisted for over two decades, leading to the loss of thousands of lives and the displacement of millions, while meaningful government response remains lacking.
“The North has suffered from herders-farmers clashes, terrorism and banditry. People were killed in mosques in Katsina, Borno, Zamfara and Kano. We have gotten to a situation where bandits and insurgents have taken some of our communities, taxing and making laws for them,” Dambazau lamented.
He added that “thousands have been killed and millions displaced. The number of widows and orphans has increased, farmers have lost their farmlands, and herders’ cattle have been rustled — all without any meaningful response from state actors.”
Dambazau urged northern governors to reduce dependence on federal allocations by establishing Ministries of Mineral Resources in their states and collaborating with relevant federal agencies to harness local resources. He said this would help create jobs, reduce poverty, and address one of the root causes of insecurity in the region.
He further called for the revival of traditional institutions, massive investment in agriculture, education for out-of-school children, and policies promoting social inclusion.
“Over 70 percent of those suffering from poverty occasioned by insecurity are from the North. Religious extremism is another major threat to security and has emboldened groups like Boko Haram, the ‘Lakurawa’ terrorists, and armed bandits to unleash violence on our people,” he warned.
In his remarks, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, stressed that security should not be left solely to the government. He called for unity, dialogue, and collective responsibility among Nigerians.
“Security is everybody’s responsibility. We were not like this before; Nigeria was not what it is today. We can solve the problem by coming together, understanding ourselves, and implementing decisions that will restore peace,” the Sultan said.
Also speaking, Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State described the insecurity ravaging the North, especially the North West, as a national concern that demands collective solutions.
“Insecurity in the North West is worrisome. The summit should examine the root causes, it may be linked to climate change and other socio-economic factors,” he stated.
