By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
A retired Brigadier General and former Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Maharazu Tsiga, has said Nigeria must dismantle the wider networks supporting bandit groups to effectively end insecurity.
Tsiga, who spent nearly two months in captivity after being abducted by bandits, made the statement during an interactive session with journalists in Kaduna. The retired military officer said addressing banditry requires more than negotiations with armed groups, stressing the need to target individuals involved in supplying weapons, logistics and intelligence to criminal networks.
“From what I observed during my time in captivity, we must pursue them aggressively. Negotiations alone may not solve the problem,” he said.Tsiga explained that bandits are not beyond reach, noting that they remain vulnerable to military operations and other security interventions.
He, however, warned that the focus should not only be on armed criminals but also on the support systems that enable their activities.“It is not only the bandits that matter. What about the informers, suppliers and others supporting them? They are also part of the problem,” he said.
Recounting his experience in captivity, Tsiga alleged that bandit leaders maintained contacts with individuals involved in supplying ammunition and other resources. He claimed that during his captivity, he overheard discussions involving the supply of ammunition and alleged that some individuals benefiting from insecurity could frustrate peace efforts.
The retired general urged the government, security agencies and citizens to work together in confronting the financing and logistics networks behind banditry. His comments come amid ongoing national discussions on the best approach to tackling kidnapping, banditry and other violent crimes across the country.
