Community Protection Guards (Askarawa): A Localized Solution to Armed Banditry in Zamfara State

Since 2011, Zamfara state has been hit by an unprecedented wave of security challenges such as kidnapping for ransom, cattle rustling and armed banditry which has led to maiming, killings, displacements of people and disruption of socio-economic activities due to the havoc wreaked by armed bandits in the state. These events have created a climate of uncertainty that has become a cause for concern for the government and the citizenry. The federal government, the civil society organizations and international organizations have responded in various ways to armed banditry in the state. These responses have range from military to non-military approach and recently, the creation of Community Protection Guards known as Askarawan Gusau by Zamfara state government. This study therefore, examined the role of Community Protection Guards (Askarawa) as a localized solution to armed banditry in Zamfara state. Methodologically, the study relied on primary and secondary sources of data and adopted social contract theory as a guide to the study. The findings of the study revealed that the Askarawas played a vital role in anti-banditry war. They have arrested hundreds of men suspected to be informants and criminal gangs, recovered arms and ammunitions and rescued hundreds of kidnapped persons, the study recommend that the government should continue the annual recruitment of the Askarawas among the local population as they are familiar with terrain and can easily detect, identify and make arrest of any suspected bandits.