Nigeria's new anti-banditry strategy may carry risks

Significance President Bola Tinubu has presented this as part of a broader decapitation strategy to weaken bandits and improve regional security. In an October 1 speech, Tinubu claimed that the government had eliminated bandit and jihadist commanders at a pace “faster than ever”. Impacts Widespread insecurity will hurt food production. Banditry may exacerbate ethnic tensions in the north-west. Ties between jihadists and bandits may prove limited, in part due to clashing ideologies and personalities as well as territorial disputes.