Nigeria Uba Sani Rebuffs El-Rufai: Firearms Alone Can't Solve Nigeria’s Banditry Crisis

The Digest:

Kaduna’s Governor, Uba Sani, has urged his predecessor, Nasir el-Rufai, to avoid politicising insecurity. In a critical stance against the suggestion that firearms alone could defeat banditry, Sani emphasized a multifaceted approach.

Key Points:

• Uba Sani disagrees with el-Rufai’s call for kinetic solutions to banditry.
• Sani argues that poverty and unemployment drive insecurity, not just criminal acts.
• He criticizes the shortage of security personnel in Nigeria.
• Sani advocates for a community-driven, non-kinetic approach to peacebuilding in Kaduna.
• He insists that insecurity in the north-west differs from Boko Haram’s insurgency in the north-east.
• The Kaduna model involves collaboration with traditional and religious leaders to tackle crime.
• Sani stresses that governors, alongside the federal government, must take responsibility for ensuring security.

Sani calls for a comprehensive strategy addressing the root causes of insecurity, beyond relying solely on military force. His stance challenges simplistic solutions, emphasizing that long-term peace requires cooperation, accountability, and community engagement.

Sources: Channels TV, TheCable, Local News Reports