Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State – In a stark warning that underscores the deepening crisis gripping Northern Nigeria, retired Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau, the former Minister of Interior and ex-Chief of Army Staff, has lambasted the rampant insecurity plaguing the region. Speaking at the inaugural Media and Security Summit on Monday, November 10, 2025, Dambazau painted a grim picture of a North where bandits and insurgents have effectively seized control of entire communities, imposing taxes, enacting their own laws, and operating with impunity. The summit, themed "Existential Threats and National Security," served as a platform for high-profile leaders to dissect the multifaceted threats endangering the region's stability and the nation's overall security architecture.
Dambazau, a seasoned military strategist with decades of experience in Nigeria's defense apparatus, traced the roots of the insecurity back over two decades, emphasizing that what began as isolated incidents has metastasized into a full-blown existential crisis. "The insecurity issue in the North has existed for over two decades," he declared, his voice resonating with urgency amid the assembly of governors, traditional rulers, security experts, and media practitioners. He highlighted specific atrocities that have scarred the region: "People were killed in Katsina, Borno, Zamfara, and Kano mosques. The North has suffered from herders/farmers clashes, terrorism, and banditry."
The retired general's most alarming revelation centered on the audacious overreach of criminal elements. "We have gotten to a situation where bandits and insurgents have taken some of our communities, taxing and making laws for them," he stated, evoking images of parallel governance structures that mock the authority of the Nigerian state. This de facto occupation has resulted in catastrophic human and economic tolls. "Thousands have been killed and millions displaced," Dambazau lamented. "The number of widows and orphans has increased, and farmers have lost farms and herders’ cattle rustled without action from state actors." These losses extend beyond immediate violence, eroding the social fabric and perpetuating cycles of poverty and despair.
To combat this scourge, Dambazau issued a clarion call to Northern governors, urging proactive measures to reclaim control and foster sustainable development. He advocated for the immediate establishment of a Ministry of Mineral Resources in each state, coupled with robust collaboration with federal agencies. "Harness their natural resources, improve their revenue base to end poverty in their respective states and reduce the level of insecurity," he proposed. The North, rich in solid minerals such as gold, tin, and limestone, has long been underserved in resource exploitation, leading to illicit mining that fuels banditry. By formalizing and regulating these sectors, states could generate internally derived revenue, create jobs, and diminish the economic desperation that drives youth into criminal networks.
Dambazau's prescriptions extended to broader socio-cultural reforms. He stressed the need for state governments to "restore the dignity of the traditional institution," recognizing the pivotal role of emirs, chiefs, and community leaders in grassroots mediation and conflict resolution. Agriculture, the backbone of Northern economy and identity, must be revitalized through modern techniques, subsidies, and security for farmlands. "Improve agriculture, which the North is known for," he insisted. Additionally, tackling the alarming rate of out-of-school children – estimated at over 10 million in the region – is imperative to prevent a lost generation susceptible to radicalization. Embracing social inclusion, particularly integrating marginalized groups like almajiris and displaced persons, would bridge divides exacerbated by inequality.
The former minister did not shy away from identifying poverty as the fertile ground for insecurity. "Over 70 per cent of those suffering from poverty occasioned by insecurity are from the North," he noted, linking economic hardship directly to vulnerability. Religious extremism emerged as another critical threat in his analysis. "Religious extremism is a major threat to security in northern Nigeria and has led groups like Boko Haram, Lakurawa terrorists, and bandits to unleash violence on the people," Dambazau warned. Groups such as the Lakurawa, a relatively new insurgent faction, have amplified the chaos, blending ideological fervor with opportunistic criminality.
The summit's discourse was enriched by contributions from other prominent figures, underscoring a collective resolve to confront the crisis. The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, the spiritual leader of Nigerian Muslims, emphasized unity and dialogue as antidotes to division. "Security is everybody’s responsibility," he asserted. "We need to come together to talk with each other on how to solve this problem. We were not like this before; Nigeria was not what it is today. We can solve the problem by coming together and having understanding, and going ahead to implement the decision we reached to have peace." His remarks evoked nostalgia for a more cohesive era while calling for actionable consensus, highlighting the role of traditional and religious institutions in peace-building.
Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State echoed the urgency for regional solidarity. "The North needs to come together to end the insecurity facing it," he said. Focusing on the North West geopolitical zone, which has borne the brunt of banditry, Sule described the situation as "worrisome." He urged the summit to probe deeper: "The summit should look at the root cause of it; it may be due to climate change and other issues." Climate-induced resource scarcity, including desertification and dwindling water sources, has intensified herder-farmer conflicts, transforming pastoral disputes into armed insurgencies. Sule's intervention highlighted environmental factors often overlooked in security dialogues.
Host Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State positioned the summit as a pivotal forum for introspection and strategy. "The summit would provide the opportunity to discuss the challenges facing the North and find solutions to them," he affirmed. Kebbi, straddling the North West, has grappled with cross-border banditry from neighboring states and Niger Republic, making it an apt venue for such deliberations.
The Media and Security Summit, organized amid rising national concerns over insecurity, brought together stakeholders to bridge the gap between policy, implementation, and public awareness. Media's role in amplifying voices, exposing atrocities, and holding leaders accountable was a recurring theme. Participants debated intelligence sharing, community policing, and technological interventions like drones for surveillance.
Dambazau's address, in particular, resonated as a wake-up call, compelling a reevaluation of federal-state dynamics in security management. While the Nigerian military continues operations like Operation Hadarin Daji in the North West, critics argue that kinetic approaches alone are insufficient without addressing underlying grievances. The former minister's emphasis on economic empowerment aligns with global counter-insurgency strategies, where development undermines extremist recruitment.
As the summit concluded, attendees pledged to translate discussions into policies. Northern governors face mounting pressure to act decisively, lest the region descends further into lawlessness. The human cost – shattered families, abandoned villages, and a generation adrift – demands urgent, holistic intervention. In Dambazau's words, the North's plight is not merely a regional affliction but a national emergency threatening Nigeria's unity and progress. With concerted effort, from resource harnessing to social reforms, the tide can turn, restoring peace to a land once synonymous with prosperity and harmony.
