NSA Ribadu Reveals Targets Of Bandits, Terrorists

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has revealed that bandits and terrorists operating in Nigeria are targeting young people, particularly those disconnected from education, opportunity, family, stability, and social mobility in the northern parts of the country.

According to him, the extremists come with offers of ideology, identity, belonging, and purpose.

He therefore stressed the need to tackle insecurity, particularly in the country’s northern region, as a way to curb criminal activity.

Naija News reports that Ribadu made the submission on Monday during an EU/BUK Workshop in Kano.

Represented by a Director of State Liaison, Office of the National Security Adviser, Lamy Chinode, Ribadu pointed out that the consequences of failing to address the identified challenges are severe.

He noted that while insecurity is not peculiar to Nigeria, governments across the globe must respond effectively, strategically, and collectively to face multidimensional and overlapping security pressures.

The NSA submitted that Nigeria has been dealing with the challenges thtough both kinetic and non-kinetic efforts.

He said, “We meet at a time when the consequences of insecurity, violent extremism, and social fragmentation are increasingly interconnected across borders and societies.

“We cannot secure our nation if our children remain on the streets. A child disconnected from education too easily becomes vulnerable to manipulation and exploitation. A child in school is significantly less likely to be recruited into these organisations

“Yet we also gather with a shared conviction that through collective resolve, inclusive partnerships, and sustained community engagement, these challenges can be confronted and overcome.

“On behalf of the National Security Advisor, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, who extends his warm regards and highest compliments, I’m both honoured and privileged to address this distinguished gathering in the ancient and historic city of Kano.

“Instability increasingly transcends borders. What ultimately distinguishes nations is the capacity of governments, institutions, communities, and partners to respond effectively, strategically, and collectively, but unfortunately, northern Nigeria continues to face multidimensional and overlapping security pressures.

“And for many years, our government has committed enormous resources towards confronting these threats, even as our brave and selfless armed forces continue to make immense sacrifices in defence of our nation. However, experience, both in Nigeria and globally, has consistently demonstrated that military operations alone cannot sustainably resolve insecurity where the underlying drivers of violence remain intact.”

“Our security assessments increasingly point to an important strategic reality, that while the state has deployed significant kinetic capacity, many of the conditions that facilitate recruitment into violent extremism remain insufficiently addressed.”

The NSA said holistic approaches must be adopted to address modern security challenges and also commended the security forces in Nigeria for the roles they play in safeguarding citizens and combating criminals.

According to him, while kinetic operations remain indispensable, sustainable peace equally requires complementary, robust, non-kinetic approaches built around prevention, inclusion, dialogue, resilience, opportunity, trust-building, and social cohesion.

“Indeed, many of these values have long existed within the social fabric of northern communities, where traditional institutions, communal support systems, religious leadership, collective responsibility, and strong social cohesion have historically served as stabilising forces.

“To effectively confront modern insecurity, we must increasingly think beyond conventional responses and adopt more holistic, preventative, and community-centred approaches.

“This is especially important because localised tensions are now rapidly inflamed through ethnic, religious, political, and social narratives that deepen divides and accelerate instability,” Ribadu added.