Armed Banditry, Coercive Approach and Human Security in the Northwest Nigeria

Localized banditry had swiftly grown with a bush fire effect consuming almost the entire Northwest geo-political region of Nigeria in recent times, its rapid transformation to becoming a more deadly attrition, and the potential of overturning the socio-economic, security and political wellbeing of the entire Northern region. This study examines the remote and immediate causes of tribalized security challenges as armed banditry, with a special interest from the aftermath of 2015 elections and the emergence of Muslim, Hausa-Fulani President, with an anti-corruption inclination, which coincided with unprecedented diverse uprisings and security impasses. The study also examines the armed banditry trend, extent of their appalling activities and how it affects socio-economic wellbeing within the affected region. The study further assesses the appropriateness and effectiveness of coercive approach to such localized upheavals, leveraging on propositions of Securitization (Copenhagen) Theorist, whose primary assumptions are hinged around multifaceted approach to security; and their justification for taking extraordinary and rule breaking measures in handling insecurity. The study further explores effectiveness of forcible approaches in other context through a peer-review analysis to infer likely outcome of current strategy applied by Nigeria. The study offers more suitable solutions and proffer practical policy recommendations. Most recent studies on the subject matter would be studied and credible data from existing research would be reviewed.