Insecurity: Panic as bandits escalate attacks, switch from rifles to rocket launchers
Weapon Smuggling and Banditry Pose Major Security Challenges in Nigeria
Security experts are raising alarms about the ongoing smuggling of weapons into Nigeria, attributing this challenge to the country’s extensive and porous borders, particularly with the Republic of Niger. The situation has been further complicated by allegations of involvement from powerful individuals with interests in illegal gold mining, who are said to sponsor insecurity in northern Nigeria to facilitate mineral resource exploitation.
In a March 2021 interview, a former bandit claimed that government officials were aware of how armed groups obtained their weapons. Additionally, there have been allegations of military personnel selling arms and ammunition intended for Nigeria’s fight against terrorism and banditry to these groups.
In October 2025, a 30-year-old Nigerien national, Shehu Ali Kachalla, was arrested by the Zamfara State Police Command during a joint operation with the Federal Intelligence Bureau and the Special Tactical Squad. Kachalla allegedly confessed to smuggling more than 450 rifles and 8,000 rounds of ammunition from the Republic of Niger into Nigeria to sell to bandit groups operating in Zamfara, Kaduna, and Niger states. He claimed that military escorts often protected his arms deliveries, assisting him in navigating the heavily trafficked border regions.
Kachalla’s account raises significant concerns about the involvement of military personnel in the illicit arms trade, particularly as he noted that soldiers provided armed protection to safeguard his convoys from rival factions and anti-smuggling patrols.
Ransom Payments Empower Bandits
The financial gains derived from ransom payments have enabled bandits to procure increasingly sophisticated weapons. An intelligence report by SBM estimates that between July 2025 and June 2026, at least 7.78 billion naira was paid to abductors, with reports indicating that approximately 22.86 billion naira was demanded for the release of 7,825 victims during the same time frame.
In a recent case, parents of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members abducted in Imo State reportedly paid 6 million naira each to secure their children’s release. One parent, Alirat Wahab, shared her family’s ordeal, explaining how they pooled resources to meet the ransom demand, which had initially been set at 50 million naira per person.
Experts assert that such payments significantly bolster the financial capacity of criminal groups, allowing them to acquire more advanced weaponry, which they use to perpetuate violence across the country.
Growing Fears Among Corps Members
Nigerian youths participating in the one-year National Youth Service Corps program are increasingly becoming targets for banditry. A report from DAILY POST indicates that between August and October 2026, at least 36 corps members were abducted in separate incidents.
In one instance on August 26, 16 corps members returning from orientation camp were kidnapped in Kogi State, although they were later rescued through security operations. Another group of prospective corps members was abducted on October 1 while traveling to orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states but was released on October 7 under unclear circumstances regarding ransom payment.
Recent interviews with corps members reveal a heightened sense of fear. A corps member, who only identified herself as Mary, noted that many are reluctant to wear their uniforms in public for fear of being targeted. “The situation has changed now,” she remarked, explaining her practice of concealing her uniform while traveling.
Call for Leadership Accountability in Security
Retired Superintendent of Police Desmond Omale emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach to combatting banditry and terrorism, arguing that efforts must extend beyond the forested areas where armed groups operate. He suggested that many of the main figures behind the violence are influential individuals who profit from illegal mining operations and may be connected to political leaders.
“In areas rich in minerals, bandits often exert control over local populations,” Omale stated, asserting that many politicians may benefit from this illicit trade. He called for a reevaluation of security strategies, urging that true change must originate from leadership, not at the grassroots level, to address the underlying issues effectively.
As the violence continues, security personnel face increasing risks, exacerbated by what Omale describes as systemic greed among some government and military officials.
