A prominent Northern elder and public affairs commentator, Alhaji Dabo Sambo, has urgently called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to address the escalating insecurity and banditry in the North. He cautioned that failing to do so could severely jeopardize the president's re-election prospects in 2027.
Sambo pointed out various levels of rising insecurity in the region, emphasizing alarming statistics:
1. **Banditry and Kidnappings:** In 2022 alone, nearly 3,500 people were kidnapped in Northern Nigeria, with an estimated ransom totaling over $18 million paid to bandits. The frequency of these incidents has increased by 50% compared to the previous year.
2. **Terrorism:** The North-East continues to grapple with the Boko Haram insurgency, with approximately 1.8 million people displaced as of early 2023, according to the UN. The violence has resulted in over 36,000 deaths since 2009, and attacks have surged again recently.
3. **Violent Conflicts:** Ethnic and communal violence has also seen a significant rise, with over 2,000 deaths reported in conflicts related to resource control in 2022, marking a 40% increase from 2021.
4. **Farmers-Fulani Conflicts:** The rising tensions between farmers and herders have led to increasing assaults across the region, with figures indicating over 1,250 deaths in these conflicts in 2022 alone.
Speaking with reporters, Sambo highlighted security as the nation's most pressing issue, emphasizing that lives and properties are constantly under threat. He insisted that ensuring the safety of the populace must be a top priority for the administration to secure public confidence and political stability moving forward.
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