Murtala Rufai, a lecturer and a researcher has spoken about how to tackle the issue of banditry in the north.
In an interview with TVC, Rufai said bandits are identifiable individuals with known names and locations. He said researchers, including himself, don’t go close to them unless on invitation. He said when conducting research, communication channels are established through which the bandits’ leaders convey specific details for safe interaction. He emphasized that this system of communication is crucial for ensuring the safety of researchers.
Rufai suggested that breaking this system and disrupting the internal communication and relationships within bandit groups would be effective in tackling the issue of banditry.
In Rufai’s words:
“We don’t go to them unless on invitation and if they invite you, you are 100% safe because there is a network of communication: On a specific day and time, I am expecting an individual traveling a particular route and dressed in a specific way,
he is coming to me for research, whatever happens to him I will hold you responsible. This means the bandit leader or warlord will pass this information therefore you will get there, conduct the interview and you will get all the necessary intelligence and then you come back unharmed.
So it is a basic fact that they have a command structure, a system in which they communicate and relate with each other and unless that system of communication is broken, unless that synergy and relationship between these bandits are absolutely broken and dealt with decisively, we can not see the end of this problem”.
Watch the video of the interview. Start from 4:47 for the quote