The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Saad Abubakar III, says it will take Nigeria decades to end banditry in the north.
The Sultan, who doubles as the president-general of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) disclosed this on Monday at the North-West Peace and Security Summit in Katsina State.
“What we must do is to challenge these bandits because we all know the consequences of banditry and insurgency on our lives. But it will take decades to get out of it if all we get out of it. We all know the consequences and the problems,” Sultam said.
He further expressed the readiness of traditional rulers in the country to partner with security agencies and governors in the zone to “save our region from the numerous problems” of banditry and insurgency.
He noted that the summit provides an opportunity for participants to present proposals to bring insurgency to the barest minimum for people to go about their lives and businesses.
Vice President Kashim Shettima represented President Bola Tinubu at the event.
Other dignitaries include former president Muhammadu Buhari, governors of the seven states in the north-west geopolitical zone, service chiefs, the Inspector General of Police were among dignitaries at the summit.
Banditry became a phenomenon in Kaduna, Kastina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Kano, and Jigawa in the last one decade as a spillover of the intractable Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East zone.
Thousands of people, mostly vulnerable persons, have been killed and displaced by the bandits who mostly disguise as herders.
A very large number of people have also been kidnapped for ransom as the AK-47-wielding bandits multiply across the North-West zone and penetrate the North Central zone.
