Releasing arrested bandits to communities undermining war against banditry – University Dons warn

Some university lecturers have said the practice of releasing and returning arrested bandits back to the communities is undermining the fight against banditry in the country.

The lecturers also tasked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to charge his service chiefs to deepen the use of non-kinetic methods to reduce banditry in the country.

The university lecturers made the assertions in a statement issued at the end of a research they conducted in some parts of the country, including the Northwest, Northcentral, Southeast and Southwest zones.

The research was conducted by Professor Olajide Akanji (principal investigator), Professor Rasidi Okunola, Professor Bentina Mathias, Professor Bukola Adesina, Dr Nathaniel Danjibo, Professor Adebimpe Adenugba and Professor Oludayo Tade.

The researchers advised the federal government and affected states to ensure that adequate support for long-term rehabilitation and resettlement of victims of banditry is made.

The researchers identified lapses in government responses to bandit attacks in communities and maintained that the practice of releasing and returning arrested bandits back to communities is undermining the war against banditry.

They called for increased collaboration among traditional institutions, security agencies, and community leaders to nip activities in the bud, adding that there is a need for regular deployment, monitoring and surveillance of communities prone to bandit attacks.

They also revealed that data have shown that bandits attack communities very early or late in the night while others attack communities on market days with a view to hijacking food, kidnapping and displacing communities.

The researchers said, “While banditry has led to displacement, unemployment and poverty in some of the affected communities, the affected people want the government to also adopt non-kinetic alongside with kinetic approach by building community resilience through the provision of communication gadgets to community members for the purpose of gathering intelligence and reporting incidences.

“Participants argued that the absence of such gadgets has hindered evidence gathering, reportage, and investigation of perpetrators in communities. They also wanted the government to empower communities and individuals to be able to defend themselves rather than feel helpless when attacked. The research participants also called for the creation of community policing to promptly attend to bandit attacks in local communities more effectively.

“More importantly, communities prone to bandit attacks need regular security awareness and sensitisation training. Participants called for strict penalties such as the death penalty for bandits and their informants within the community to serve as a deterrent to others. Apart from this, the study found lapses in government responses to the fight against banditry to include

“The researchers identified lapses in government responses to bandit attacks in communities to include the practice of releasing and returning arrested bandits back to communities which have undermined trust in the legal and security frameworks, deterring individuals from reporting suspicious activities due to fear of reprisal.

“Lack of implementation of decisions reached during investigations, leading to a disconnect between government promises and actionable results. Poor/lack of evaluation and adaptation of governments’ responses to evolving banditry threats. Delays in aid delivery to victims. Inadequate support for long-term rehabilitation and resettlement of victims of banditry. “