Ex-Army Chief Dambazau Laments Terrorists Now Collect Taxes, Make Laws in Northern Communities

A former Minister of Interior and retired Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (rtd), has raised concerns over the worsening insecurity in Northern Nigeria, warning that terrorists and bandits have taken over some communities where they now collect taxes and enforce their own laws.

Speaking on Monday at the First Media and Security Summit held in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, Dambazau said the region has endured over two decades of insecurity, resulting in thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions, with little meaningful response from government authorities.

The summit, themed “Existential Threats and National Security,” brought together prominent northern leaders, including the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, and the governors of Nasarawa and Kebbi States.

“The North has suffered from herders-farmers clashes, terrorism, and banditry. People have been killed in mosques in Katsina, Borno, Zamfara, and Kano. We have gotten to a situation where bandits and insurgents have taken some of our communities, taxing and making laws for them,” Dambazau lamented.

He added that insecurity has devastated livelihoods, noting that thousands have been killed, millions displaced, and farmlands abandoned, while herders have lost their cattle to rustling.

Dambazau urged northern governors to reduce dependence on federal allocations by establishing Ministries of Mineral Resources in their states and collaborating with relevant federal agencies to harness natural resources, create jobs, and address poverty—one of the key drivers of insecurity.

He also called for the restoration of traditional institutions’ authority, massive investments in agriculture and education for out-of-school children, and policies promoting social inclusion.

“Over 70 percent of those suffering from poverty occasioned by insecurity are from the North. Religious extremism is another major threat to security and has emboldened groups like Boko Haram, the ‘Lakurawa’ terrorists, and armed bandits to unleash violence on our people,” he warned.

In his remarks, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, emphasized that security should not be left to government alone, calling for unity and dialogue among Nigerians.

“Security is everybody’s responsibility. We were not like this before; Nigeria was not what it is today. We can solve the problem by coming together, understanding ourselves, and implementing decisions that will restore peace,” the Sultan said.

Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State described insecurity in the North West as “worrisome,” urging participants to examine its root causes, including possible links to climate change and socio-economic factors.

Similarly, Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State hailed the summit as a timely intervention, saying it offers an opportunity to find practical solutions to the region’s deepening security and development challenges.

“This gathering provides us with the opportunity to discuss the challenges facing the North and to find workable solutions,” Idris stated.