Political strategist and Group Chief Executive Officer of Global Investment and Trade Company, Baba Yusuf, has raised alarm over the worsening security situation in Nigeria, warning that bandits could soon find their way into the National Assembly if urgent action were not taken.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News, Yusuf said the growing influence of bandits, particularly in northern Nigeria, has reached a troubling level where some communities now pay them taxes and seek their intervention in resolving disputes.
According to him, while citizens continue to lose their lives in attacks, political actors are more focused on exploiting the crisis for political gains rather than addressing it decisively.
Yusuf noted that the activities of the armed groups have become increasingly audacious, with reports of them killing soldiers, impersonating military personnel, and engaging in negotiations with authorities without facing consequences.
He said the attackers now operate openly, sometimes issuing advance notices of planned attacks and carrying them out without resistance.
“We are already at a dangerous point,” Yusuf stated. “If you assess insecurity not by isolated incidents but by its overall impact, you will see a steady expansion into areas previously considered safe, including parts of Niger and Kwara states.”
He also cited repeated attacks in Benue and Plateau states, noting that assurances by government officials have failed to deter further violence.
“They are daring the state and taunting the nation. After killing soldiers, they wear military uniforms and even participate in mediation processes, only to return to their bases without consequences,” he said.
Yusuf expressed concern over what he described as a growing level of public reliance on these groups, warning that such dynamics could further erode state authority.
“People are beginning to trust them for protection and conflict resolution. If this trend continues unchecked, it could escalate to the point where bandits gain political influence,” he added.
He called for a unified national response, urging both the ruling party and the opposition to treat insecurity as a non-partisan, existential threat rather than a political tool.
“This is a crisis that demands collective action across party lines. If we fail to act decisively, the consequences will be far-reaching,” Yusuf warned.
