Banditry is on the increase in Nigeria, especially in the northern region. It has degenerated into a complex national emergency with dire territorial complications.In effect, the incidence and prevalence of banditry raises a fundamental question about the government’s ability to govern effectively. How can banditry be curbed? BARBARA NEGBEJIE asks. Excerpts
‘Intelligence gathering investment is a remarkable factor for curbing all crimes’
Intelligence gathering investment is a remarkable factor for curbing all kinds of crimes, and it has proven time and time that it is result driven in different countries like the USA. This is a method of cloak and dagger activities, that is under-cover work; planting one or two persons to sell out the source. Take out the major source financier, and bankrupt the whole operation. This method is unbeatable because humans are naturally greedy; therefore it’s easy to use them to take themselves out. The government should also invest heavily on security agents generally, especially in welfare, to enable efficiency and productive output.
‘Involve stiffer penalties from the judiciary in promulgating the rule of law’
Curbing of banditry which has eaten deep into the echelon of society, will involve stiffer penalties from the judiciary in promulgating the rule of law. The paramilitary have to be reformed especially the police force and severance packages paid when due
‘Address issues of lack of social security such as unemployment, lack of power, housing’
What Do We Mean By Bandit ? A bandit is an association of evil minds that cause havoc in the society by theft, murder, and generally involving in criminal activities for their selfish goals. “Banditry” is the actions carried out by bandits. It is also a societal issues and it can be curbed The Major Causes of Banditry? Lack of social security such as unemployment, lack of power, housing, good health system. Insecurity, not having free and fair process in picking political representative at various levels, religious and ethnical discrimination, when the judiciary system is dependent rather than independent. Porous borders which allows an influx of illegal immigrants into the country. Etc. Although, causes of Banditry varies from one society to the other. How Can Banditry Be Curbed? When all the above causes are appropriately attended to and a memorandum of action is put in place to address the people or the society at large. With that, peace will definitely return to the land as every member of the society will be engaged in one activity or the other for the good of all.
‘Revisit the idea of State Policing’
Curbing of banditry, which has eaten deep into the echelon of society, will involve stiffer penalties from the Judiciary in promulgating the rule of law. The paramilitary have to be reformed especially the police force and severance packages paid when due.
‘Deliberate empowerment of youths with useful skills for creating wealth’
Banditry in the country or in any country at all, wreaks havoc to the roots, peace and stability of any given state and/or country, as the case may be. There are many ways by which the excesses of Bandits, who perpetuate these devilish menace of wreaking havoc, can be controlled, and checked. One way to curb the menace is to make it unattractive to the perpetrators, particularly their foot soldiers, thereby instituting and enforcing stiffer penalties. Another is deliberate empowerment of youths with useful skills for creating wealth, as we all know the saying about an idle mind being the devil’s workshop. The idea of the above, and many others, is to make skill and hard work more profitable than crime. Not state pardon and lavish/extravagant living for perpetrators, at the expense of justice for the victims and safety of citizens. Lastly, further reinforcement of the Military Armory all over the nation, will give them cold-feet before perpetuating the heinous and dastardly act of banditry. The Government Security Forces should also connect locally and devolve underground, to add more firepower to the local security architecture. Innocent souls were lost in the past, see the Suleja Catholic Church attacks by bandits, few months ago, another is the recent happening in Geidam, Gwoza, Borno, Niger State, a painful and bitter national pill to swallow.