Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani urged opposition parties to stop politicising insecurity, stressing that banditry cannot be eliminated by military force alone. He made the remarks during a public presentation of a book by the late Sheikh Abubakar Mahmud Gumi, translated into Arabic by Sheikh Ibrahim Jalo Jalingo.
Governor Sani explained that insecurity in the Northwest differs from the Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast, as it is driven by poverty, unemployment and the neglect of rural communities. He warned that relying solely on firearms to resolve the problem is political posturing, and called for a comprehensive approach. He noted that Nigeria’s security manpower has fallen despite a massive population increase over the past 45 years: in 1970 the country had about 300,000 soldiers, whereas today fewer than 250,000 serve a population that has grown by more than 100 million.
The governor highlighted the lack of security presence in large parts of the Northwest, citing areas such as Zamfara, Birnin Gwari and the forests of Katsina, where one can travel 50 kilometres without encountering a policeman or soldier. He pointed to the Kaduna Peace Model—a non‑kinetic strategy initiated by affected communities that involves traditional and religious leaders and other stakeholders—as an example of a community‑led response.
Sani identified poverty, unemployment, and the absence of schools, hospitals and commerce in rural areas as the root causes of crime, urging leaders to take responsibility. Representing President Bola Tinubu, he served as the special guest of honour at the event organised by Jamaátu Izalatul Bidáh Wa ‘iqamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS) on Saturday. His remarks underscore the complexity of Nigeria’s insecurity challenges and the need for a multifaceted, community‑driven approach that addresses the underlying causes of banditry and other crimes.
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