A new scholarly study by Professor Olubukola S. Adesina of the University of Ibadan (UI) and Dr Mistura A. Kehinde of Lead City University has identified rural banditry as one of the gravest security and development threats confronting Nigeria in the 21st century.
The claim was contained in their recent paper titled, “Evolution and impact of rural banditry in Nigeria: a situational action Theory approach to understanding localised insecurity”, published in Small Wars and Insurgencies, a reputable international journal under the Taylor and Francis Group, examines the causes, evolution, and far-reaching consequences of banditry across Nigeria’s rural communities, particularly in the North-West.
According to the authors, what initially began as sporadic criminal activities has over the years escalated into a sustained crisis characterised by coordinated village attacks and hijacking, mass kidnappings, cattle rustling, extortion, ransom payment, and widespread displacement of rural populations.
The study findings revealed that rural banditry is deeply rooted in weak governance structures, socio-economic exclusion, environmental pressures, and long-standing intercommunal tensions. These factors, the researchers argue, have combined to undermine livelihoods, weaken social cohesion, and erode the economic foundations of affected communities. Adesina and Kehinde noted that the impact of banditry goes beyond security concerns, with devastating effects on essential social services.
In many parts of North-West Nigeria, healthcare delivery has been severely disrupted as health workers are frequently abducted, medical supplies looted, and health facilities destroyed or occupied by armed groups. As a result, numerous health centres have shut down, forcing residents to travel long distances to access basic medical care in state capitals or neighbouring states.
The education sector has also suffered significant setbacks.The paper documents widespread attacks on schools, including kidnappings, killings, sexual violence, and arson. Many schools have been abandoned, while teachers and students have either been killed, injured, or forced to flee.
The persistent insecurity, the authors observed, has left families afraid to send their children to school, worsening the education crisis in affected regions.
Beyond health and education, the study highlighted severe disruptions to agriculture and food systems. Thousands of families have been displaced from their farms, leading to reduced agricultural production, disrupted markets, and rising food prices.The loss of livelihoods has further diminished purchasing power among poor households, deepening food insecurity and poverty.
The authors stressed that rural banditry poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s economic stability and social fabric if left unchecked. The call for urgent, comprehensive policy responses that go beyond military interventions, advocating strengthened local governance, community-based security initiatives, and targeted socio-economic development programmes.
According to the study, addressing both the root causes and immediate effects of rural insecurity is critical to restoring stability, rebuiling trust, and safeguarding the future of Nigeria’s rural communities. The full article could be found: https://doi.org/10.1080/09592318.2026.2621140
