Osita Okechukwu, a founding member of Nigeria’s All Progressives Congress, said on Sunday that armed operations on their own will not eliminate banditry, arguing that a broader strategy is needed to restore security and economic activity in affected rural areas.
Security strategy and rural recovery
- Okechukwu praised National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu for publicly recognising that military action alone cannot resolve the banditry crisis.
- Ribadu made the observation at a brainstorming meeting on responses to banditry, organised by the Sokoto Advancement Forum together with the Centre for Peace Studies at Usmanu Danfodiyo University in Sokoto.
- In a statement he signed, Okechukwu, a former director-general of the Voice of Nigeria, described Ribadu’s assessment as “Gbaam,” a local expression denoting strong agreement.
He said security operations must be reinforced by efforts to win the confidence of local communities, safeguard farming and other rural sources of income, and stop young people from being drawn into criminal groups.
“Progress cannot be judged solely by the number of arrests, arms seized or areas retaken,” Okechukwu said. “Real success must include safer communities, displaced families returning home, farms producing again, schools reopening, markets operating and public trust being rebuilt.”
