Soludo’s security strategy in Anambra could be among required solution to end banditry in Nigeria

Two weeks ago, the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, called for an increased military intervention to flush out criminal elements from notorious blackspots and forests in the north. ‘’I am advocating for military intervention in these forests. The solution to this menace is to conquer the forest. The bandits are in the forest. Why have we been on the defensive instead of being on the offensive?’’, Alhaji Ganduje lamented in a press statement signed by his chief press secretary, Edwin Olofu. Alhaji Ganduje’s concern is shared by well-meaning Nigerians.

Governor Chukwuma Soludo, in the Anambra State Homeland Security Law 2025, presents a methodical, systematic and legal solution to Alhaji Ganduje’s call for the cleansing of forests in Nigeria.

Section 15 (2) of the recently signed Anambra Homeland Security Law reads: ‘’ Any person, not being a member of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army or other security agency recognized by the law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or the laws of Anambra State, who lives or harbours people on any land in the forest in any part of the State except for purposes related to farming or in furtherance of any lawful business, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a

term of 25 years without an option of fine’’. The law further mandated community leaders – who should know the nook and crannies of their forests– to provide monthly security reports on activities in forests in their jurisdictions to their respective local government chairmen.

This law and the intelligence-based reporting system that has been instituted in Anambra is already yielding fruits. In the last 2 weeks, kidnap dens in forests in Anambra have been busted. Other criminal hideouts have also been busted. Scores of criminals, who were found to be in procession of illegal arms, have been apprehended. In fact, one of these suspected criminals had the following inscription boldly tattooed on his chest: ‘’No peace 4 the government’’.

Actually, there have been numerous reports of the Nigerian army dislodging bandits from forest in northern Nigeria. The Nigerian army has used their superior firepower and intelligence gathering mechanism to overpower bandits in forests. But a holistic framework, like what was presented in the recently signed Anambra Homeland Security Law, makes the army’s work easier.

The fight against bandits in Nigeria is an asymmetric warfare. An asymmetric warfare has many challenges, which include: difficulties in identifying and targeting the real enemy; possibility of civilian casualties due to unconventional tactics employed; the non-distinct or blurred lines

between the enemy and civilians in some cases; political constraints on military response, especially when people feel that harmless civilians are caught up in the warfare with the enemies; and the need to maintain public and community support in a prolonged conflict.

These challenges can be ameliorated with the kind of framework in the recently enacted law in Anambra. (The recently signed Anambra State Homeland Security Law was an executive bill).

One, a proper census and exact locations of citizens farming or doing related lawful businesses in forests would help the Nigerian military to easily differentiate between the enemies and civilians. As the new law in Anambra mandates, civilians, living in forests should only be for purposes related to farming or any related legal business. This makes it easy to identify non-state actors who are living in forests. More importantly, community leaders should be made to identify real farmers in forests. This, as it were, helps to eliminate the possibility of non-state actors blending into civilian populations.

Constant monthly and weekly reports from community leaders who know the citizens farming in forests as highlighted in the recently signed law in Anambra will help in intelligence gathering.

Three, landowners who own lands in the forests will be forced to keep an eye on their large expanse of lands and report observed anomalies to government.

Nigeria has large expanse of lands. This provides breeding space for non- state actors. The role of forest management agencies – such as the Nigerian Hunter & Forest Security Service (NHFSS) – can also not be overemphasized. The NHFSS must be made to effectively provide the required support to the military. Issues related to underfunding, lack of training, and a need for more modern equipment in this organization should be addressed. Locals should be aggressively recruited into NHFSS and trained.

This column believes that President Tinubu’s directive to the Nigerian military to end banditry in 2025 is achievable. This column also believes the President is determined to end this menace which preceded its administration.

Banditry in Nigeria has cost the country millions of dollars. Anytime any news of bandit attack in Nigeria pops up in the international media, the country is portrayed in a bad light. The solution to this menace would require a multifaceted approach. One of this must include a legal framework to secure our forests as seen in the Anambra Homeland Security Law 2025.

Nwankwo is the special adviser to Soludo on special projects