Paper short abstract:

This study examines the persistence of rural banditry in northwestern Nigeria, its impact on local populations, and their coping mechanisms. Despite state efforts, banditry remains a significant security threat, fueled by ungoverned spaces.

Paper long abstract:

This study interrogates the specter of rural banditry in northwestern Nigeria and the coping strategies by the people in the affected areas. It argues that banditry has emerged as one of the gravest security threats in Nigeria, in terms of intensity of violence and disruptive impact on the citizens. Due to state absence, collections of various criminal groups emerged to inflict violence on hapless fellow locals through kidnap-for-ransom, taxation, armed robbery, cattle rustling, rape, pillage and attacks on traders, farmers, and travelers. Though the locals and government have responded through formation of vigilante groups and deployment of troops, yet the problem is far from being over. And this triggers some pertinent questions: what accounts for the resilience of banditry in the rural areas of northwestern Nigeria? How do the people cope with the menace? What can be done? Based on primary data gathered through personal interviews with selected people in some affected areas of northwestern Nigeria, the study interrogates the foregoing questions. It is erected on the theory of ungoverned spaces and findings show the presence of ungoverned spaces as a major contributor to the emergence and resilience of banditry in the rural areas. Following inability of the state to come to their rescue, the people have adopted several coping methods including relocation to urban areas and payment of ransoms and taxes imposed by the bandits in order to stay alive. The study recommends kinetic and non-kinetic strategies as a way of dealing with the menace.