Northern Elders Call for Sustained Military Action to Quell Zamfara Banditry
Leaders from the Northern Elders Progressive Group have urged the Federal Government to maintain rigorous military operations in Zamfara State, saying such an approach is the most effective way to end escalating banditry in the region.
According to the elders, any talk of dialogue with criminal elements should be secondary to sustained military pressure. They argue that only a clear, forceful strategy can dismantle the camps and command structures of the bandits.
The group commended the government’s recent security initiatives, but stressed that continuity in military deployments is vital. They warned that as soon as pressure is lifted, bandits could regroup and return to violence.
In their view, this does not necessarily preclude non-kinetic approaches, but kinetic (military) action must remain central to the strategy for a lasting solution.
They also called on the national leadership to ensure that the military is well-supported, both in terms of logistics and intelligence, so that operations can be both sustained and effective.