By SUMAILA OGBAJE

A civil society organisation, Citizens Participation Against Corruption Initiative (CPACI), on Monday raised the alarm that the recent bandits’ attacks in parts of Kano State pose a grave threat to the stability and economic backbone of Northern Nigeria.

CPACI’s Executive Director, Mr Bishir Dauda, raised the alarm while briefing newsmen on Monday in Abuja.

Bashir said the penetration of bandits into communities in Shanono, Bagwai and Tsanyawa Local Government Areas — an area he described as the North’s “last impenetrable fortress”, should serve as a wake-up call to security agencies and political leaders.

He said that allowing Kano, the region’s most populous and economically vibrant state, to slip into banditry would have far-reaching and “unimaginable” consequences.

Bashir said the development could push Kano into the category of frontline insecurity-prone states, leaving the entire North-West engulfed by banditry and terrorism.

He expressed worry that instead of rallying around a common front, some politicians were attempting to exploit the situation for political gain.

He called on security agencies to probe recent allegations by the Kano State Government linking certain political actors to the worsening insecurity.

“Politicisation of security challenges is sabotaging government efforts to confront criminality.

“This is a matter of life and death, and we expect politicians, regardless of their party lines, to unite and confront insecurity before it consumes us all,” he said.

CPACI Director also criticised individuals allegedly fuelling insecurity for political leverage, describing them as “enemies of democracy and stability.”

He also faulted calls by some actors for the creation of militia-styled groups under the guise of strengthening Hisbah, warning that such moves were dangerous and capable of igniting internal conflict.

He linked the attacks In Kano to spillover effects from neighbouring Katsina, where some communities had reportedly struck local peace deals with bandits.

He argued that such negotiations, conducted without government oversight, disarmament or rehabilitation plans, were worsening insecurity across the North-West.

“It doesn’t make sense for Jibia and Batsari to enjoy peace while Tsanyawa and Shanono are being terrorised. The peace deal with bandits is not working and the strategy needs to change,” he said.

CPACI leader recommended that any engagement with bandits must include compulsory disarmament, rehabilitation and reintegration of genuinely repentant fighters, adding that federal and state governments must harmonise their approaches to ensure clarity of purpose.

He urged security forces to intensify kinetic operations against unrepentant bandits while deploying non-kinetic measures in a comprehensive way involving government at all levels. (NAN)