Author(s) :

SALIHU Kamaruden Gbenga.

Volume/Issue :

Abstract :

This study examines the relationship between Nigeria’s national defence policy and military operations, focusing on the evaluation of anti-banditry campaigns in Northwestern Nigeria between 2015 and 2025. The persistent escalation of armed banditry, which has evolved from localized rural criminality into a complex and adaptive national security threat, has necessitated sustained military interventions through operations such as Sharan Daji, Harbin Kunama, Puff Adder, Sahel Sanity, Hadarin Daji, and the ongoing Fansan Yamma. The main objective of the study is to assess the effectiveness of these military operations within the framework of Nigeria’s national defence policy and their impact on security outcomes in the region. Methodologically, the study adopts a qualitative design based on secondary data sources, including official security reports, policy documents, academic literature, and datasets from institutions such as ACLED, the National Bureau of Statistics, and international humanitarian agencies, using a descriptive and evaluative analytical approach. Findings reveal that although military operations have recorded notable tactical successes such as the disruption of armed networks and rescue of kidnapped victims, these gains remain largely temporary due to structural weaknesses including poor intelligence coordination, weak governance presence in rural areas, porous borders, and socio-economic deprivation. The study further establishes that armed banditry has significantly undermined national security by disrupting agricultural productivity, weakening human capital development through school attacks, increasing displacement, and eroding public trust in security institutions. It concludes that there is a persistent gap between Nigeria’s military operations and sustainable security outcomes, recommending strengthened intelligence systems, improved inter-agency coordination, enhanced border security, and integration of socio-economic development strategies into counter-banditry policies. Keywords: Armed banditry, national defence policy, military operations, Northwest Nigeria, security challenges, internal security.

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