Nigeria Fights Back Against Banditry, Insecurity

By Senator Iroegbu

Kidnapping and banditry persist as some of Nigeria’s most critical security challenges. From Zamfara to Kaduna and the Southeast, this scourge has disrupted lives, displaced communities, and drained the economy through ransom payments. Despite the grim headlines, recent, coordinated security efforts are yielding measurable results, offering cautious optimism to citizens, policymakers, and the international community alike.

In a democracy that thrives on dissent and scrutiny, pushback from groups like SBM Intelligence and the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) is to be expected. Their critiques of recent incidents highlight the persistence of the problem and the human cost that statistics alone cannot capture. However, challenges do not negate progress. Security is rarely perfect; successes are incremental and often fragile. The crucial question is whether Nigeria is making progress in terms of security, and in many respects, it is.

In late August, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) announced the rescue of 128 hostages in Zamfara State—an achievement mirrored elsewhere. According to the Defence Headquarters, security forces in 2024 neutralised over 3,100 terrorists, arrested 2,500 suspects, and freed more than 1,600 kidnap victims. Similarly, the Nigerian Police Force reported rescuing 1,581 hostages and arresting over 30,000 suspects for various offences.

Between May 2023 and early 2025, National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu disclosed that more than 13,500 terrorists and armed criminals had been neutralised, while over 124,000 insurgents and their families had surrendered. Additionally, more than 11,000 individuals were rescued from captivity, and nearly 3,843 illegal refineries—key to funding insurgent and criminal activities—were dismantled nationwide. Collectively, these figures underscore a shift from defensive responses to proactive operations, with a renewed focus on dismantling networks of violence.

One of the most innovative tools in this effort is the Multi-Agency Anti-Kidnap Fusion Cell (MAAKFC), established under ONSA and its National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) in partnership with the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA). This cell pools intelligence, coordinates rescue missions, and tracks the financial flows sustaining kidnapping syndicates. Since its launch in late 2024, officials report an 80% success rate in anti-kidnapping operations.

This initiative reflects an understanding that kidnapping in Nigeria has evolved into a sophisticated criminal enterprise, sometimes linked to terrorist financing. MAAKFC integrates military, police, intelligence, and judicial actors into a single platform. Beyond rescuing victims, its mandate is to dismantle the economic and operational infrastructure of kidnapping.

Tangible results are evident in communities that once epitomised Nigeria’s insecurity. Southern Kaduna, long plagued by cycles of killings and abductions, is experiencing relative calm. Zamfara, formerly under siege by bandit warlords, has begun to stabilise. In the Southeast, where “unknown gunmen” once paralysed daily life through violence and sit-at-home orders, a fragile normalcy is returning.

However, the North West remains the hardest hit. Banditry has claimed more than 12,000 lives and displaced entire farming communities. Still, gains are also visible here. The arrest of Ansaru terrorist kingpins Mahmud Muhammad Usman (the self-styled “Emir of Ansaru”) and his deputy Mahmud al-Nigeri (Malam Mahmuda), along with the elimination of notorious warlords such as Ali Kachalla, Halilu Sububu, and Boderi, and the surrender of others under non-kinetic initiatives like the “Kaduna Model,” have reduced mass abductions. While isolated attacks continue, the frequency and scale of kidnappings have declined.

Yet, optimism must be tempered with realism. According to SBM Intelligence, Nigerians paid at least ₦2.57 billion in ransoms between July 2024 and June 2025, while abductors demanded as much as ₦48 billion. During this period, nearly 5,000 people were kidnapped, and over 760 were killed in related violence. These figures underscore the ongoing challenges and the need for continued vigilance and action.

The NEF recently drew attention to deadly incidents, including the massacre of 27 worshippers in a Kaduna mosque, the execution of 35 abductees in Zamfara despite ransom payments, and raids in Kauru and Kudan LGAs. Their call for a state of emergency in Northern Nigeria underscores the severity of the crisis and the urgent need for action.

Critics rightly argue that one spectacular failure can erode the confidence built by 19 successful operations, and that security gains remain uneven and vulnerable to reversal. Furthermore, the emergence of new groups, such as Lakurawa, demonstrates the fluidity and adaptability of criminal enterprises.

Progress in Nigeria’s fight against kidnapping and banditry is undeniable, but it remains insufficient. To consolidate these gains, security operations must be sustained, and a broader focus on addressing root causes is essential. Security agencies should strengthen coordination and intelligence sharing by fully leveraging platforms like the MAAKFC. Otherwise, turf wars between agencies risk undermining years of hard-won progress and must be firmly addressed.

Equally vital is community engagement, as local communities are the first line of defence. Gaining their trust relies on security forces’ accountability, transparency, and respect for human rights. Simultaneously, addressing underlying drivers—poverty, youth unemployment, porous borders, and governance deficits—is crucial. Otherwise, military victories will be temporary.

International partnerships also play a critical role. The UK-supported MAAKFC demonstrates the value of global collaboration. Building on this, Nigeria should seek to expand such cooperative frameworks with ECOWAS, the African Union, and other strategic partners. Ultimately, only robust security, community trust, structural reforms, and international cooperation can ensure that progress translates into lasting peace and stability.

Nigeria’s battle against kidnapping and banditry is far from over. The pain of victims’ families and the ransom economy underscore the scale of the challenge, yet dismissing recent progress would be unfair. For the first time in years, momentum is building: thousands of hostages have been freed, major warlords have been eliminated, and coordinated institutions are emerging.

The road ahead requires patience, vigilance, and collective responsibility. Security cannot be left solely to the government; it is everyone’s business, and each citizen has a role in ensuring the safety of our communities. To transform fragile gains into lasting stability, Nigeria must implement coordinated strategies, foster community involvement, and undertake structural reforms.

Amidst the turmoil, there is hope. Our task is to turn hope into resilience, and resilience into peace. The strength of the Nigerian people—their ability to endure and strive for a better future—remains a source of inspiration in these challenging times.

*Iroegbu, a journalist, security and public affairs analyst, writes from Abuja.