From Grievance To Greed: An Interrogation Of State Collapse And Warlordism In Banditry Torn Nigeria’s Northwest Region

Abstract

Globally, strong leadership is required to ensure security of lives and properties, and respond promptly and sharply to any security challenge that may arise in governance. In some developing nations, such as Nigeria, the leadership is, however, perceived to be usually weak giving room for many non-state actors to incessantly harass the people, undermine and confront the government with impunity. This paper investigated the emergence of warlords in banditry torn Nigeria’s North-west by examining the crisis, which began as a grievance of the Fulani herders but later transformed into greed due to state collapse. Descriptive research method was adopted, while data were collected through secondary sources. Grievance and greed theory, and failed state theory were utilised as theoretical framework. The paper observed that when the warlords noticed the huge profits accruing from ‘ransom taking’ and ‘rent-seeking’, banditry, which started as a justice-seeking phenomenon was transformed into loot-seeking practice. It revealed that this situation was caused, among others, by state collapse and aggravated by the inadequacies of the security agencies. It canvassed that the several efforts made by governments at various levels to frontally confront the scourge were belated, uncoordinated, inadequate and consequently ineffective. It concluded that if the government fails to take a decisive measure, armed banditry in the region will remain prolonged and intractable, while the warlords will continue to grow fat from the proceeds of “ransom-taking”, “rent-seeking” and other criminalities thus paving way for the emergence of warlords, who now command respect, status and influence in the region. It therefore, recommended that the Nigerian state should wield the strong political will to confront the scourge head-on and deal decisively with the warlords in accordance with the law to serve as deterrent to others. Also, the security personnel should be well equipped and motivated to successfully prosecute the war.