Policy Weekly Conflict Actors in Zamfara State: Doing Well Out of Violence by nextierspd August 16, 2022 written by nextierspd August 16, 2022 108 Zamfara State has been on the edge of a precipice in the last couple of years because of escalated banditry. The criminal violence has led to a surge in cattle rustling, raids on communities, ethnic conflicts and kidnapping for ransom. Out of the 4,419 persons abducted in Nigeria between January 2021 and June 2022 (See figure 1), Zamfara State recorded 911 cases, the second highest in the country after Kaduna State, which recorded 1,271. (See figure 2) In response, the government and traditional leadership have deployed a mixture of retaliatory and conciliatory strategies to no avail. For example, government troops\’ deployment to quell bandits\’ nefarious activities has yielded marginal results. Similarly, the use of amnesty to woo bandits has failed. These stabilisation efforts have been underpinned by a binary notion which divides the conflict actors into two separate \’enemy\’ groups. That is, those perpetrating violence (e.g. bandits) and those aiming for peace (e.g. members of state security forces). Based on the internal dynamics of banditry and other realities on the ground, this Nextier SPD policy weekly challenges the binary conception of criminal violence by shining some light on how the so-called \’enemies\’ connive to promote their economic agenda. Click here to download report. 0 comment 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail nextierspd previous post Accelerating Access to Off-grid Financing in Nigeria next post Exploring the Adoption of Solar Energy Projects in Nigeria You may also like Youth Bulge, Governance and Security in Post-conflict Sierra... July 3, 2024 No Face, No Case: The Realities of Gender-sensitive... June 28, 2024 Strengthening Humanitarian Response in Post-Conflict Communities in Nigeria:... June 21, 2024 Crude Oil Theft and Illegal Refining in Nigeria:... June 13, 2024 Crude Oil Theft and Illegal Refining in Nigeria:... June 5, 2024 Navigating Autonomy in Nigeria’s LGAs: Challenges and Opportunities May 31, 2024 Rethinking Youth Engagement in Peacebuilding May 24, 2024 Strengthening Enablers of Peace and Security in the... May 17, 2024 Towards a Paradigm Shift in Conflict Management in... May 7, 2024 Redefining Slum Dwellers: Insights into Nigeria’s Urban Challenges... April 24, 2024