Violence on the Rise in Nigeria

On July 18th, a military jet over Nigeria’s northwestern Zamfara territory was shot down by a group of bandits responsible for recent kidnappings in the area. The Alpha Jet was part of the air force mission tasked with flying over the Zamfara, Kaduna, and Katsina regions and countering their escalating banditry. According to Al Jazeera, Lt. Abayomi Dairo was able to successfully eject himself from the plane and wait until sunset before making his way to a nearby army base. A statement by the air force said that the military jet “came under intense enemy fire which led to its crash.” Air force spokesman Edward Gabkwet said, “using his survival instincts, the pilot, who came under intense ground fire from the bandits, was able to evade them and sought refuge in nearby settlements awaiting sunset.”

In recent months, the bandits have perpetrated widespread kidnappings. Since January, over 3,000 people have been abducted by armed bandits in northwestern Nigeria. More than 1,000 children were abducted in attacks on eleven school dormitories. The majority of children have been released, but only after thousands of dollars in ransom were paid to the captors – a characteristic practice of such groups. According to SB Morgan Intelligence, a total of $18 million has been paid by Nigerians in the past decade. Showing no sign of slowing down, abductions have spread to hospital inhabitants, politicians, and celebrities.

As Nigerian governance and security falter, armed groups rise. Bandits have capitalized on weak security in rural communities that are already faced with economic and environmental concerns. Humanitarian organizations have been the main source of relief for affected communities through the provision of food, water, medicine, and education to displaced people. Although humanitarian groups are working to promote economic recovery in these areas, widespread violence remains a threat to the local population as rogue groups gain increasing control.

Banditry and kidnappings are not the only security concerns facing Nigeria; Jihadism, oil militants, and local land conflicts persist across the nation. Jihadist group Boko Haram now controls the Nigerian fish market and has caused the deaths of nearly 350,000 people, according to the UN. Land and water conflicts between nomadic herders and farmers have been exacerbated by recent climate changes, such as the spread of the Sahara Desert. Fertile land has become increasingly scarce and resulting disputes have caused the deaths of innocent civilians. In Nigeria’s oil-producing south, the resurgence of profit-seeking armed groups poses a security concern.

The bandits are a part of a larger issue in Nigeria. According to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), armed conflicts in the Lake Chad region alone have displaced 2 million people. Without basic needs like food and shelter being met, Nigerians are unable to hold stable jobs, go to school, or care for their families. This requires increased humanitarian assistance in the form of food, medicine distribution, and emergency shelter. Humanitarian aid is most successful when the burden is shared across intergovernmental organizations, humanitarian organizations, and governments. In 2020 alone, the ICRC provided food, cash assistance, and essential household items to 458,531 Nigerians. Furthermore, 578,042 Nigerians accessed healthcare across 23 ICRC-supported primary healthcare centers and 249,618 Nigerians in areas of armed conflict had improved access to water and hygiene.

It is imperative that basic physiological needs are met in the most remote and rural communities of Nigeria. In the long term, programs for good governance and security must be implemented throughout the country in tandem with local organizations and governments. It is crucial that local governments feel capable of controlling and securing their region without intense reliance on Abuja.

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