THE CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF KIDNAPPING AND BANDITRY: A STUDY OF GORONYO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, SOKOTO

Worldwide, the criminal phenomenon and behavior such as kidnapping and banditry are not new, it's a universal phenomenon with differences in criteria and scenarios in both developed and developing countries. According to Okoli and Agada (2014); Imhonopi and Urim (2016); Ihe (2018); Samuel (2019); Ibrahim and Ahmad (2020), the incessant incidences of forceful abduction of individuals for ransom have incurred immense threat to governments, security agencies, and all related stakeholders globally. Moreover, the concept of banditry and kidnapping has been changing over time, space and circumstances. A bandit in the 19th century Europe and Americas was seen as freedom fighter whose aim was partly to ensure the emancipation of the downtrodden from the upper class or colonized over the colonizer (Warto, 1994). Furthermore, bandits such as Chucho el Roto, Herachio Bernel and Santanon were often celebrated as heroes of Mexican independence (Robinson, 2009). Therefore, the Mexicans have warm regards and respect for these bandits termed “social workers”, while on the contrary, the Mexican government often considered them as nuisance and outlaws that need to be eradicated (Watts, 1987). However, according to Abdullahi (2019), a bandit in traditional African setting is entirely opposite to that of America and Europe. From historical perspective, banditry is not something novel to Africa, its origin and development are as old as the continent itself dating back to inter-tribal periods characterized by conflicts and wars over scarce economic resources and territorial expansion for political influence. Most parts of Africa experienced these forms of conflicts during the slave trading, colonial, and post-colonial periods. Though there have been remarkable changes on the nature and pattern of banditry and other forms of conflicts in Africa, the socio-economic and political reasons remain significant in explaining the prevalence of the phenomenon on the continent (Abdullahi, 2019). Nigeria is experiencing many security challenges such as Boko Haram insurgency, farmers/herdsmen crisis, violent agitations, and youth tensions, among others. Today, citizens live at the mercy of criminal elements which are rampant in the country, with security personnel visibly overwhelmed. This alarming situation is further complicated by the rise of kidnapping and banditry in the North, especially in the North-West geopolitical region of the country. As observed by Ojo (2020), in Nigeria, different states are faced with various security threats, with banditry in the North being an emerging threat in recent times. Starting in 2011 and worsening in 2014, the Northwest region faced serious attacks from bandits. Initially, this threat was more prevalent in rural areas, but it is now spreading from its centre in Zamfara State to other states in the region, such as Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi and Sokoto (International Crises Group, 2020). The International Crisis Group (2020) argued that, the security challenge in the North West has its root from long-running competition over land and water resources between mostly Fulani herders and mainly Hausa farmers, both of whom have mobilized armed groups, “bandits” for Fulani pastoralist and “vigilante” for the Hausa farmers in the name of protection (ICG, 2020). They argued further that these ethnic groups decry failure of the government to protect them and therefore insist on self-protection. These ethnic militias have the backing of ethnic and community, religious and traditional leaders, who justify their actions and shield them from facing the full wrath of the law (ICG, 2019). Their argument is in line with the position of (Abdullahi, 2019) who posited that rural banditry is a form of identity conflict, which affects social relations among different ethnic groups in West Africa. Regrettably, Nigeria is currently the epic center of banditry and kidnapping in West African Sub Region, with North West and North Central taking the center stage. Banditry and kidnapping for ransom have become pervasive in Nigeria, with criminal groups exploiting the security vacuum and socio-economic challenges. These have resulted in widespread clashes and violence, casualties’, displacements, loss of lives and property and humanitarian crisis across the country (Omotajo & Bode-Okunade, 2020). Banditry and kidnapping as noted by Shehu, Victor and Binta (2017) have emerged as the new bogeyman for insecurity in Nigeria, joining a long (and still growing list) that includes Boko Haram, herdsmen, and militants. In different parts of the North-West, from Birnin-Gwari in Kaduna to Tsafe in Zamfara, to areas in Sabon Birnin in Sokoto, bandits are offered as the trope for an intolerable carnage (Shehu et al., 2017).